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An 18-year-old woman was hit by a vehicle near Departure Bay Rd. on Tuesday, Oct. 12. The offending vehicle left the scene. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)
INFORMATION NEEDED

Nanaimo RCMP investigating hit and run after 18-year-old woman struck

Oct 29, 2021 | 9:45 AM

NANAIMO — Local Mounties are looking for more information after a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle in the parking lot of a Nanaimo shopping complex.

An 18-year-old woman was walking in the Brooks Landing shopping centre parking lot near Departure Bay Rd. on Tuesday, Oct. 12 between 11:30 and 11:45 a.m and was headed toward the crosswalk behind the mall.

“Prior to being hit, she heard the engine revving and then the vehicle struck her with enough force that it actually lifted her off the ground,” Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The motorist then continued through the parking lot and turned onto Departure Bay Rd. The woman was taken to hospital by her boyfriend and treated for minor injuries.

No surveillance video of the incident has emerged.

“It’s kind of hard to fathom that the driver would not have understood that they’d struck this person,” O’Brien added. “Having said that, there’s always a reason for action and we’d like to talk to the driver to get their version of events.”

Drivers are legally obligated to stop if they hit another vehicle or pedestrian, with potential penalties laid out in the Motor Vehicle Act and Criminal Code of Canada.

The victim was able to provide some information of not only the suspect vehicle, but another which followed immediately after.

A passenger in the second vehicle mouthed to the victim if she was ok, but did not stop to help.

“Being a good samaritan, you should stop. There’s no legal requirement to stop, but it’s completely unethical…if somebody’s been struck by a vehicle to not stop and find out if they’re ok.”

Nanaimo RCMP are looking for any information related to this incident. They’re asking those with details or dash cam footage to contact the detachment at 250 754 2345, quoting file number 2021-38398.

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