WATCH: A 17-year-old boy is clinging to life in a Victoria hospital tonight after being hit in a marked crosswalk in Nanaimo. Skye Ryan has more.
Police have released further details into an incident where a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle Wednesday afternoon in Nanaimo and is in hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Nanaimo RCMP says a 17-year-old male is in critical condition after he was hit by a car while walking through a cross-walk at the intersection of Hammond Bay Road and Ventura Road around 3:15 p.m.
The teenager was taken to local hospital before being airlifted to Victoria, where he remains.
Police say the 33-year-old driver of a newer model Toyota RAV4 stayed at the scene and co-operated with investigators.
Witnesses told investigators the youth stepped into the cross-walk and was going southbound across Hammond Bay Road when he was struck.
The vehicle was seized and will undergo a mechanical inspection.
The Nanaimo RCMP Municipal Traffic Unit is overseeing the investigation.
The youth is currently enrolled in School District 68.
District officials have been notified and will have extra grief counsellors in place at the school and throughout the district to assist students and staff impacted by the incident.
A portion of Hammond Bay Road was closed for several hours while investigators examined the scene.
Witnesses said Wednesday that neighbours in the area have petitioned for a signal light at the crosswalk for years.
Nanaimo RCMP is asking anyone who witnessed the collision, or drivers with any dash cam footage, to contact them at 250-754-2345.
Nanaimo RCMP investigates Wednesday after a 17-year-old male was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Hammond Bay Road and Ventura Road.
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