Two Mexican exchange students who were struck while trying to cross the Island Highway in Nanaimo have died of their injuries.
They are the second and third teenage pedestrians to die in Nanaimo this month because of jaywalking.
Maria Hildebrandt Cereija, 15, and a 17-year-old friend were in a group of four people crossing the highway against a red light at Mostar Road at about 10:30 p.m. on Friday when they were struck by an SUV. The 56-year-old driver remained on scene and was co-operative with police.
Drugs and alcohol were ruled out as factors. The roads were wet and slippery at the time.
Maria was taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and then airlifted to Victoria General Hospital. The 17-year-old, whose name has not been released, was taken to B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.
Both teens died on Monday; their deaths were made public on Wednesday.
On Oct. 15, a Nanaimo teen died of the injuries she suffered when she was struck by a pickup truck while crossing the highway near Mary Ellen Drive on Sept. 21.
The 16-year-old ran across the road against a red light and was struck by the northbound truck. She was thrown about 20 metres, landing in a crosswalk. She was airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital.
Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Const. Gary O’Brien said all three deaths are “terrible.”
He said it’s highly unusual to have three pedestrian fatalities in a month.
“It’s horrific and the school district and community and first responders are dealing with this as best we can,” O’Brien said.
Nanaimo RCMP’s school liaison officer was in touch with the international homestay co-ordinators who contacted the Mexican consulate to inform the families.
The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating all three deaths. Drugs and alcohol were not believed to be factors in either crash.
According to ICBC, seven people were killed in pedestrian-related crashes on Vancouver Island in 2014, the most recent year with statistics available.
