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Teen Dies Days Before Graduation, Igniting Safety Calls
3 Jul
Summary
- An 18-year-old girl died in a crash days before her graduation.
- Community members and students are demanding improved intersection safety.
- The intersection has seen a rise in injury and fatal collisions.
An 18-year-old girl, Katie Bohati, died in a two-vehicle collision just south of Nanaimo, B.C., on June 21. She was only a day away from her high school graduation. The crash occurred at the intersection of Cedar Road and Island Parkway, an area local residents describe as having frequent collisions. According to ICBC data, this intersection was the fourth highest for casualty crashes in Nanaimo in 2025, with incidents increasing from 49 in 2023 to 61 in 2025.
Classmate Max Young is spearheading a petition with nearly 3,000 signatures, advocating for an additional warning light on the highway's left side. He believes the current warning light is in a blind spot, contributing to speeding on the downhill grade. Young has met with MLA Sheila Malcolmson to discuss the proposed safety enhancement. Bohati's cousin, Samantha Trarback, supports the petition and emphasizes the need for broader highway visibility improvements across Vancouver Island to prevent further tragedies.
