By Dominic Abassi

Teen was in crosswalk when hit on Hammond Bay: Nanaimo RCMP

Mar 7, 2019 | 10:20 AM

NANAIMO — A teen is clinging to life in a Victoria hospital after police say he was hit by a vehicle while in a crosswalk in north Nanaimo.

Nanaimo RCMP issued an update on the March 6 incident, which happened around 3:15 p.m. on Hammond Bay Rd. near Ventura Dr.

Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW the 17-year-old was crossing Hammond Bay towards Ventura and it’s believed the vehicle was headed west on the main road.

“Our understanding, after speaking to a number of witnesses and examining the scene, is the youth had taken at least a couple steps into the crosswalk when he was struck by the vehicle.”

O’Brien said the 33-year-old driver of the Toyota RAV4 involved remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. He said it’s too early in the investigation to discuss potential charges. The vehicle was seized and will undergo a mechanical inspection.

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“We are looking at all the factors that contributed to this incident, but we can’t say anything further at this point.”

O’Brien said the young man who was hit is a student in Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools, but wouldn’t confirm which school he attended. The incident happened less than a kilometre from Dover Bay Secondary School.

The teen was airlifted to Victoria hospital late Wednesday evening, where he remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

“The incident is very traumatic,” O’Brien said, noting a large number of other students were in the area at the time.

“Our school liaison officers are engaged and the school district has extra grief counsellors in place. It’s just a terrible incident.”

O’Brien urged witnesses or people with dash cam footage to come forward if they haven’t already spoken with RCMP. He said anyone struggling with processing the matter is encouraged to contact Victim Services.

The section of Hammond Bay was closed for several hours Wednesday afternoon as the scene was examined.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi