A 26-year-old man has been taken to Vancouver General Hospital with serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle in Parksville on Monday night.
According to Oceanside RCMP, officers received reports of the incident at around 10:40 pm on September 28. Police and BC Ambulance Service were dispatched to the collision, which was located along Highway 19a near Bay Avenue in Parksville.
The driver, a 26-year-old man from Parksville, was driving northbound on Highway 19a when – at the last second – he noticed a man crossing the street in front of him, said police.
The vehicle collided with the pedestrian – also a 26-year-old man – and knocked him to the ground, reads a police report.
According to RCMP, the pedestrian from Parksville sustained significant injuries as a result of the collision and was transported to Nanaimo General Hospital by BC Ambulance Personnel.
Authorities said that the injured pedestrian was then flown to Vancouver General Hospital by air ambulance with significant but non-life-threatening injuries.
RCMP officers who responded to the incident claim that the driver of the vehicle immediately stopped, rendered initial first aid and asked a passer-by to call an ambulance.
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He was cooperative with police, according to the report, and patrol officers have determined speed and alcohol were not factors in this collision.
RCMP point to darkness, dim lighting, the pedestrian wearing dark clothing and not crossing at a crosswalk as the contributing factors to the collision.
The RCMP believe they have spoken to all necessary witnesses, however, are still asking the public for anyone who might have additional information or dashcam footage, to call their non-emergency line at (250) 248-6111.
Graham Cox
