Two teenagers suffered critical injuries Friday night after being struck by a vehicle on the Island Highway.
Nanaimo RCMP said it appears a 15-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy were with two other people and “attempting to run/walk across the crosswalk against the red light” at the highway at Mostar Road at 10:30 p.m. Friday night.
The driver, a 56-year-old man, was coming through the intersection when the two were struck. He remained at the scene and is co-operating with police.
According to Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, the girl was airlifted to Victoria General Hospital and the man was airlifted to the children's hospital in Vancouver. Both were foreign exchange students in the Nanaimo school district.
O'Brien said their parents and school district guardians have been contacted and victim services are working with the driver and the school district.
Drugs and alcohol have been ruled out as factors and roads were wet and slippery at the time, said O'Brien.
As of Saturday morning, the two were still listed in critical condition, O'Brien said.
If you have any information on this incident, please contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.