A tragedy on Yellow Point Road last week has left two young children without their father.
Gavin McConville, a 51-year-old English professor at Vancouver Island University died in a car accident May 4 on Yellow Point Road.
Regional coroner Matt Brown said Monday investigators are still trying to determine whether McConville died as a result of the crash or some form of medical condition that may have contributed to the crash.
The Ladysmith man was southbound with his two children in the area near De Courcy Drive when the vehicle left the road, striking a power pole and then a tree before coming to rest.
He was declared dead on the scene by the B.C. Coroner’s office.
“We’re still waiting for the traffic analyst’s report,” Brown said.
According to Brown, the crash occurred on an s-curve.
“He negotiated the first turn, he didn’t negotiate the second. There’s no indication that weather was a factor, but that’s still to be determined.”
“An RCMP traffic analyst attended and his report, along with a mechanical inspection of the car are pending,” Const Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP said in a media release.
“It is still under investigation but early reports indicate the male driver may have experienced a medical emergency just prior to the collision.”
According to police, the kids, age 6 and 8, did not sustain any significant injuries. The police report indicated they were taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, treated and then released.
The incident, which occurred at about 5:30 p.m., was attended by members of the Nanaimo and Ladysmith RCMP.
No word was available at press time about a service, or if the family is in need of any help from the community.