Two pedestrians stuck by a vehicle as they tried to cross the Hart Highway Saturday afternoon were taken to hospital with unspecified injuries.
The accident happened at 4:50 p.m. between Shady Lane and Bellamy Road.
Prince George RCMP spokesperson Jen Cooper said the driver who hit the pedestrians is co-operating with police in their investigation. The highway was closed for several hours while investigators were on the scene and traffic was rerouted through a detour.
More details will be released by the RCMP on Monday.
This is the third serious pedestrian-vehicle accident in less than a month in the city. On Nov. 3, a 63-year-old man later identified as Danial William Warner died after being struck by a pickup truck trying to cross First Avenue at Quebec Street.
Then on Nov. 4, another pedestrian, whose identity was not released, was killed trying to cross the Hart Highway between Houghtaling Road and Northwood Pulpmill Road. That accident scene was less than a kilometre from Saturday’s incident.
According to ICBC, nearly 55 per cent of the pedestrian fatalities happen between October and January, when road conditions deteriorate due to weather and there are fewer daylight hours. Most pedestrian accidents happen between 3 and 6 p.m. On average, 52 people die trying to walk or run across B.C. roads and 2,400 are injured when hit by motor vehicles.
Distracted driving and failing to yield to pedestrians are the most common contributing factors. Motorists are reminded to not use their phones while driving and pedestrians are advised to stay focused on where they are walking and be aware what is going on around them.
Three-quarters of pedestrian accidents happen in intersections. Drivers should be especially cautious when approaching vehicles stopped ahead of them and pay particular attention to watch for people crossing when making turns.
