Thursday December 12, 2019 ~ SOOKE [Updated December 18, 2019 re Speed Limits on Highway 14]
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
This morning, Thursday December 12 — prior to the start of the school day — a student was struck by a vehicle in the crosswalk in front of Edward Milne Community School.
The teenage girl was transported to the hospital. “While we don’t know the extent of the injuries at present, the student is in stable condition,” says SD62 Communications Manager Stephanie Sherlock.
The vehicle had been travelling west bound (toward Sooke) at the time of the incident, around 7:45 am, before dawn. The girl is understood to have been walking from Lazzar Road (on the other side of the highway), across Highway 14 (Sooke Road) using the crosswalk. The crosswalk is unattended by a crossing guard but does have a flashing light.
“Our Critical Incident Team is on site at EMCS working with staff and students. Students are in classes and the day is continuing as usual. We will update you further when we are able,” it was stated in a news release from SD62.
The crosswalk allows pedestrians to cross the provincial Highway 14 (Sooke Road) which is the only road ‘in and out’ of Sooke. Weather has been rainy this morning. The incident occurred during the usual morning commute time period.
Sooke RCMP arrived on scene just before 8 am. “Frontline members attended immediately and worked alongside BC Ambulance and the Sooke Fire department who were already on scene,” says Cpl. Chris Manseau, Division Media Relations Officer, Sooke RCMP.
Sooke RCMP investigators say they believe that the student crossed Sooke Road (Highway 14) from Lazzar Road towards Edward Milne Community School (high school, grades 9 to 12) when they were struck by a green westbound vehicle.
Witnesses described that there was heavy rain at the time of the collision and it was dark. The Sooke RCMP continue to determine whether the crosswalk light was activated, or if the pedestrian was in the crosswalk.
The speed limit on Highway 14 in front of Saseenos and John Muir elementary schools is 60 km/h. In front of Sooke Elementary the speed limit is 50 km/h. As a main artery in and out of town, traffic is often travelling at speeds faster than that.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) says that the speed limit in front of each of the elementary schools is posted at 40 km/h when children are present on the highway. “This offers children visiting the school fields and playgrounds additional protection when school is not in session, like during evenings and weekends, and spring and summer break,” says a Ministry representative.
The investigators on scene have determined that alcohol was not a factor in the collision says Sergeant Clayton Wiebe, Sooke RCMP. The driver of the vehicle has been cooperative with the RCMP investigation, and was very concerned for the injuries sustained by the victim. This investigation is still ongoing to determine what caused this incident.
While three elementary schools on Sooke Road (Saseenos Elementary, Sooke Elementary and John Muir Elementary) have crossing guards, the high school on Sooke Road does not.
Comment still to come from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) which is responsible for Highway 14.
In the past year, MOTI did install a sidewalk along Edward Milne Road (which runs parallel to Highway 14).
The name of the student has not yet been released (1:50 pm December 12, and still not at 9 am December 13).