A 16-year-old girl struck by a vehicle on the Hart Highway Tuesday afternoon is alive - contrary to Facebook postings claiming otherwise. She's been flown to hospital in Vancouver with serious, non-life-threatening injuries, most significantly to her head.
The 82-year-old woman driving the dark-coloured Buick Century is facing possible charges. Alcohol was not a factor, according to police.
Traffic was disrupted during the evening commute as investigators analyzed the crash scene. It happened at about 4:20 p.m. in the vicinity of Estavilla Drive.
"The bicyclist was wearing a helmet, which the on-scene responders credit for sparing her even greater injuries," said Prince George RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Craig Douglass.
Some residents are wondering if the incident would have happened at all if the roadside crosswalk signs hadn't been vandalized.
The girl was crossing the Hart Highway on a bicycle at the intersection of Estavilla Drive when the collision occurred. A male youth, also with a bike, was with her.
Police were told by witnesses at the scene that the crosswalk indicator signs had been pried off of their fasteners sometime in the days or weeks before.
"The signs were not in place," confirmed RCMP Sgt. Al Steinhauser, commander of the city's traffic unit. "The crosswalk markings were also worn down," he added.
New signs had been installed by Wednesday morning.
Although still inside city limits, the crosswalk's maintenance is the jurisdiction of the provincial government. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure spokesperson Kate Trotter told The Citizen the young rider's condition was a great concern, and so too is the ongoing attention they have had to invest in that particular intersection.
"Just prior to this crash, the pedestrian crossing signs were vandalized and thrown into the ditch," said Trotter. "This unfortunately is the third time since February that these specific signs have been the target of vandalism. The signs have since been reinstalled and the ministry is looking at options to try to protect the signs from ongoing vandalism. These signs are intended to increase the safety of pedestrians using the painted crosswalk and vandalism of this nature is very serious."
Regardless of signs or paint condition, Steinhauser stressed, it is still the responsibility of drivers to stop for pedestrians at any intersection if they indicate their desire to cross over, whether the crosswalk is formally marked or not.
In this case, the boy was already safely across the highway and the vehicle struck the girl coming second.
"The southbound traffic stopped, but a northbound vehicle struck the bicyclist," said Douglass.
The details of the girl's injuries were not disclosed. Douglass said, but serious enough to warrant the attention of specialists in Vancouver where she was flown on Wednesday morning.
Anyone with information about this act of vandalism is asked to contact police (Prince George detachment at 250-561-3300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca).
If anyone sees signs that have been vandalized or missing, call local road maintenance contractor YRB at 250-614-7600 or the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure at 250-565-4410.
