Teens struck on highway critically injured

Two teenage exchange students were critically injured after being struck while attempting to cross the wet and slippery Island Highway in Nanaimo on Friday night.

A 15-year-old girl and 17-yearold boy were struck in a crosswalk on the Island Highway at Mostar Road about 10:30 p.m., RCMP say.

The 56-year-old driver remained at the scene and co-operated with police.

Drugs and alcohol have been ruled out as contributing factors.

“While early in the investigation, it appears the two injured youth were with two others and were attempting to run/walk across the crosswalk against the red light,” RCMP said in a statement. “The driver was driving through the intersection when the two were struck.”

The girl was airlifted to Victoria General Hospital, and the boy was airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

Both students are foreign exchange students enrolled in School District 68. Their parents and school district guardians have been advised, police said.

The intersection was closed for several hours while investigators, assisted by an RCMP traffic analyst, attended. The vehicle will also be inspected.

The collision occurred a day after RCMP reported that a 16-year-old struck in Lantzville last month had died of her injuries. The girl, whose name has not been released, was hit as she ran across the Island Highway at Mary Ellen Drive against a red light on Sept. 21. The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating.