A 56-year-old man is dead after the bus he was on stopped to avoid an accident in Nanaimo on Friday.

According to police, the incident happened near the intersection of Labieux Road and Bowen Road around 5 p.m.

The bus was travelling west along Labieux Road when a pickup truck towing a trailer exited the nearby Mid-Island Co-op parking lot and turned in front of the bus.

The bus driver ‘braked hard’ to avoid hitting the truck.

A passenger on the bus fell from his seat and hit his head on the floor.

The man was transported to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"The pickup did not stop and the driver may not even be aware what transpired. Investigators would however like to speak with the driver and obtain their version of the incident,” said Const. Gary O'Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP in a release.

Police said the pickup truck may have been an older model Dodge and was towing a trailer with the word “Flooring” on the side.

BC Transit said two others suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Speed doesn't appear to be a factor, police noted.

The remaining passengers were transferred to another bus.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.