By Dominic Abassi

Two teens in critical condition after being hit crossing Nanaimo highway

Oct 22, 2016 | 10:42 AM

NANAIMO — Two teens are in critical condition in hospital after being hit on the Island Highway in north Nanaimo Friday night.

Nanaimo RCMP say it appears the 15-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy were trying to run or walk across the crosswalk at the Island Highway and Mostar Road around 10:30 p.m. Police say the driver had the green light and hit the two teens as he went through the intersection. Drugs and alcohol have been ruled out as factors, according to Mounties.

Police say the girl was airlifted to Victoria Hospital, while the boy was airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. The two teens are exchange students enrolled in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District. The 56-year-old driver involved stayed at the scene and cooperated with police, a release states.

The accident comes less than a week after a 16-year-old Nanaimo girl died in hospital. She was hit by a truck while jaywalking across the same highway about three kilometres north at Mary Ellen Drive on Sept. 20. In that case as well, RCMP report the driver had the green light.