Exchange students fighting for life after being hit on Nanaimo highway

Two exchange students are fighting for their lives in hospital after they were struck while dashing across a Nanaimo highway on Friday night.

According to police, the 15-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy were with two friends when they attempted to cross the Island Highway at Mostar Road at about 10:30 p.m. Witnesses report the group was in the crosswalk against a red light when two of them were hit by a vehicle travelling through the intersection.

The girl was airlifted to Victoria General Hospital and the boy was airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital. Both remain in critical condition.

The accident happened hours after Nanaimo RCMP reported a 16-yearold girl who was hit by a truck while jaywalking across the Island Highway last month had died in hospital.

In that case, the girl was in the crosswalk against a red light at the intersection of Island Highway and Mary Ellen Drive.

She was stuck by a truck and thrown 20 metres. Both exchange students involved in Friday night’s collision were students in the Nanaimo School District, said Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien. Their parents and school guardians have been notified.

The driver of the vehicle, a 58-year-old man, remained at the scene and was cooperative with police. The roads were wet and slippery.

Drugs and alcohol were ruled out as contributing factors.