Authorities have identified the driver of a white pickup truck that sped off a loading ramp at the Swartz Bay ferry terminal on Friday as a 29-year-old man from the Western Communities.
Despite some speculation that he was a BC Ferries employee, company spokeswoman Deborah Marshall confirmed Saturday that he was a customer who purchased a ticket and had been waiting in line prior to the fatal crash.
His name has not been released.
The truck is estimated to have been travelling roughly 80 kilometres per hour when it charged at the barriers blocking Berth 1 and plunged into the 10-metre-deep waters.
The driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle. The dramatic incident is believed to have been intentional, Marshall said, though a motive has not been determined.
"It is quite evident that this person was intent on going off the ramp," she said, adding that a witness reported seeing the man "in a rather agitated state."
Due to the number of available berths, disruption to ferry service was minimal, Marshall said. The Swartz Bay terminal was back to regular operation on Saturday morning.
Employees on duty during the crash have been offered counseling.
The incident was caught on terminal surveillance cameras, but the footage is being withheld out of respect for the deceased's family.
The ramp is normally in an upright position, but had been lowered in anticipation of the Queen of New Westminster's arrival when the driver pulled out of Lane 8 and sped towards the water.
Divers have recovered both the body and vehicle, and the BC Coroner's Service and Mounties from the Sidney-North Saanich detachment are investigating.
