One person is dead after a head-on collision on Highway 18 on Nov. 3.
Teenager Daniel Ranns has been identified as the victim in the crash.
Daniel is the grandson of John Ranns, the former mayor of Metchosin, located near Greater Victoria, where Daniel lived with his family. They moved to Vancouver Island from South Carolina four years ago.
John said he was very close to Daniel and his parents.
"We're just still trying to get our heads around it," he said. "Daniel always had a smile on his face and was quick with a conversation. He was never any trouble. Daniel was an independent thinker who thought for himself and was delighted that he had a chance to vote for the first time in the provincial election."
John said his grandson was in the Lake Cowichan area on Nov. 3 looking to buy a fifth-wheel trailer that he intended to live in on his family's farm when the collision happened.
"The family is getting huge amounts of support as we go through this," he said.
"My son [Daniel's father] is president of the Juan de Fuca Lacrosse Association and his mother is an executive member of women's lacrosse in that area so they have a lot of friends and colleagues there for them at this time. Daniel was also a lacrosse coach who had a lot of friends. He just graduated from high school and was planning on going to university. He really loved life."
Westshore Bears Lacrosse, of which Daniel was a member, posted on their Facebook page, "Once again we are being made to endure the pain of losing one of our Bears — Daniel Ranns — the best definitely do die young."
Under the post many commented on how heartbroken they are over the loss and expressed condolences to his family.
Members of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment responded to a report of the crash in the eastbound lane of the highway at 2:22 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3.
According to witnesses, a westbound compact pickup truck drifted into the oncoming lane where it impacted an eastbound one-tonne pickup, RCMP said in a press release.
The compact pickup truck came to rest in the ditch, the driver was entrapped and crews worked to extricate him while the other driver was taken to hospital with apparently minor injuries.
The driver of the compact pickup, Daniel, was later pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts by first responders.
No one else was injured in the crash.
All highway traffic was shut down to allow emergency crews to work safely.
The investigation remains in the early stages and all causal factors are not yet known, RCMP said.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision, specifically the driver of a white truck that braked and swerved towards the ditch to avoid the collision while they were travelling east towards Duncan, to come forward and speak with investigators.
Anyone with any information or dash cam footage of the crash who has not yet spoken with police is asked to contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522.
