A 19-year-old Saanich man has died after his car plunged into the Pat Bay on Saturday night.
According to BC RCMP spokesman Sgt. Chris Manseau, the incident occurred around 9 p.m. at the end of Mills Road where it intersects with West Saanich Road in North Saanich.
Sidney/North Saanich RCMP, paramedics and firefighters quickly responded to the area after receiving multiple reports of the car driving into the ocean.
“Upon arrival they located the vehicle, and a single occupant within it,” said Manseau.
A search of the shore and area did not reveal any other persons involved, and it appears that the driver was the only occupant.
Family and friends have identified the 19-year-old as Brayden Veldhuyzen van Zanten. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help his mother Christy Strachan to assist her through this tragedy.
“This has been a shock to the family and they need time to heal,” the GoFundMe page read. “Christy is no stranger to pain as she lost her daughter Emily in April of 2018 to a blood clot.”
“For a mother to lose not one child but both is unimaginable.”
As of this publication, the GoFundme page has raised over $4,000 of the $25,000 goal.
Manseau said the investigation is still underway, but does not appear suspicious.
