A 13-year-old girl was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries after being hit by two cars while crossing the street in North Vancouver Saturday morning.
The girl was crossing the street on West Third Avenue between Lonsdale and Chesterfield at about 11:30 a.m. when she was struck first by a vehicle heading west, then by another vehicle heading east, after she was thrown into its path.
North Vancouver RCMP spokesman Corp. Richard De See Transit page 3 See Girl page 9 Jong said the girl wasn't at a crosswalk, but had darted out between two parked cars mid-block when the first vehicle hit her.
The accident happened in front of a number of witnesses, including a friend of the girl, who was with her at the time.
Ambulance paramedics and police arrived on the scene within minutes, said De Jong.
The girl was rushed to Lions Gate Hospital, then transferred to B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver.
On Tuesday, the girl remained in an induced coma, in serious but stable condition with her family by her side, said De Jong.
"We're extremely hopeful she'll pull through this," he said.
De Jong said both drivers remained at the scene, adding there's no indication of negligence on their part.
Victim services have been assisting the girl's family in North Vancouver, as well as the two drivers, he said.
Counsellors have also been called in to help the girl's friends and classmates at school, he added. De Jong said the accident is a serious reminder to all pedestrians to use marked crosswalks, to be alert for vehicles and not to be distracted by texting or other activities while crossing the street. This fall has so far proved to be especially dangerous for pedestrians in North Vancouver.
One 29 year-old pedestrian was struck and killed last month after he climbed over a concrete median and tried to cross Highway 1 near Lloyd Avenue on foot, running into oncoming traffic. The man was only one block away from the pedestrian overpass at Pemberton Avenue at the time.
A week before that, two North Vancouver seniors were sent to hospital after being struck by cars in separate incidents. Dark, rainy conditions were factors in both accidents.
