2 students hit crossing Nanaimo highway, both in critical condition

Two foreign students are in critical condition after they were hit last night crossing a busy, wet and slippery Nanaimo B.C. highway on a red light, police said.

Nanaimo RCMP say the 15-year-old female and 17-year-old male, both from Mexico, were hit in a crosswalk on the Island Highway near Mostar Road.

Both are in critical condition in hospital.

They were hit around 10:30 p.m. PT on Oct. 21.

Police said a 56-year-old driver was headed towards the McDonald's when four students ran across the road on a red light. He was unable to stop and hit two.

The distraught driver remained at the scene and cooperated.

Counseling services are being coordinated for the driver and the school district where the two injured teens were attending.

Police continue to look for witnesses who may have seen the incident, but were unable to stop.

"It appears the two injured youth were with two others and were attempting to run/walk across the crosswalk against the red light," said a press release from Cst. Gary O'Brien.

Drugs and alcohol were not a factor in this accident, he added.

Investigators spent two hours analysing the scene last night, before the road was re-opened.

Witnesses are asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.