A 36-year-old man was taken to hospital with minor injuries early this morning after being struck by a Nanaimo Regional Transit bus.
The accident happened today just before 7 a.m. when the bus, travelling south on Milton Street, turned left onto Fitzwilliam Street after yielding for a car and struck a man in a crosswalk.
Several witnesses told police the victim did not appear to look up when he entered the crosswalk, was wearing dark, non-reflective clothing and had the hood of his hooded sweatshirt pulled up close to his eyes.
“According to a number of witness statements, it looked like it was unavoidable,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “The subject did not have the right of way, non-reflective clothing and because of how he was wearing his hoodie he probably never even saw the bus.”
O’Brien said the victim did not lose consciousness and was treated at the scene for a minor knee injury. He was taken to Nanaimo Regional General hospital and is expected to be released later today.
Investigators do not believe, based on witness accounts, there will be any charges pending against the 49-year-old male driver of the driver of the bus.
