A student spent the night in hospital with unknown injuries after being struck by a pickup truck in front of a north Nanaimo elementary school Wednesday.
The injured child remained in hospital overnight and was expected to be released Thursday, Jan. 23, noted a police press release. Nanaimo RCMP Victim Services is assisting those involved in the collision and the investigation is continuing.
Dale Burgos, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools spokesman, said the incident happened on Dunbar Road as students were being let out from Pleasant Valley Elementary School at about 2:40 p.m.
“I can confirm that it was one of our students that was hit by a vehicle. I was told it was on Dunbar Road, right where the school is,” Burgos said. “The student was taken to hospital for further examination.”
Burgos said traffic was blocked as emergency personnel dealt with the scene.
“Traffic was still affected. We had a school bus that was waiting to leave, so it had to wait a bit,” he said.
Nanaimo Fire Rescue, B.C. Ambulance and RCMP attended.
Burgos did not have information about the injuries the student sustained.
Emergency personnel at the scene said the incident wasn’t as serious as first feared, but concerning because of its location. The incident happened at a time when the road becomes congested with vehicles picking up students.
The school district had issued a e-mail to parents this week regarding safety concerns with traffic congestion and issues with parking in the area at the beginning and end of the school day.
Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, confirmed in an e-mail the student hit was a six-year-old girl who was “struck after exiting the family vehicle, then ran into traffic.”
The 42-year-old driver of the pickup truck stayed at the scene and with other witnesses started emergency first aid until B.C. Ambulance paramedics arrived
Speed, alcohol and drugs have been ruled out as factors in the investigation.
Nearby businesses were canvassed and video surveillance footage of the incident was obtained by investigators.
Anyone with dash cam video footage of the collision who have not reached out to investigators is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
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