What was at first thought to have been a minor traffic incident has sent a woman to hospital in critical condition.
The incident happened about 5 p.m. Tuesday on Estevan Road at the Poplar Street intersection when the woman, 79, was struck by a northbound car driven by a Nanaimo man, 60.
“She appeared to have minor injuries at the scene,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “Later that night she took a turn for the worse.”
The woman was rushed to Victoria General Hospital where she is in the intensive care unit in critical condition.
O’Brien said it was dark and the woman was not wearing reflective clothing.
The RCMP’s preliminary investigation indicates the victim was in the crosswalk when she was hit.
The driver was charged at the scene with failing to yield to a pedestrian.
“There is nothing to indicate any secondary charges at this point,” O’Brien said.