Police have released a statement from the family of 29-year-old James Davies of Victoria.
Davies drove his white pick up truck off the upper loading ramp for berth number one at Swartz Bay Ferry terminal around 5:30 p.m. May 20 landing in the water.
"The pick up accelerated up the ramp, crashed through barricades at high speed and launched off the end of the ramp into the ocean, sinking almost immediately. It was confirmed by witnesses and security video that there was only one person in the vehicle," said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Chris Swain.Several small boats, including an RCMP vessel and coast guard hovercraft quickly began to search for the submerged vessel. The vehicle was located in 35 feet of water and Davies' body was recovered at approximately 7:30 p.m.
"The incident is under investigation by the BC Coroner's Service with assistance from the Sidney North Saanich RCMP. Police have ruled out any criminal involvement in this death," said Swain.
"We are family in grief," said the statement from the Davies family. "On Friday, our son James died in a tragic event at Swartz Bay. James was a kind, courageous and charitable young man who had very recently become unwell.
"We regret the trauma and anguish that this event may have caused those who witnessed it and those involved in the rescue and recovery efforts. Our son was a most caring individual who would never have wanted to cause grief to those around him. We are deeply grateful for the efforts of the first responders and the staff at BC Ferries, and for the outpouring of help and support from family and friends.
"We ask that the public and the media respect our privacy. Thank you, the Davies family."
Sidney North Saanich RCMP and the Davies family would like to remind everyone of resources available on Vancouver Island for adults that are experiencing a crisis in their lives. They can receive support by calling the Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888, or on the web at www.cvics.ca, said Swain.