Woman dies in Nanaimo hit and run; police ask for public health

A 90-year-old woman is the victim of a fatal hit and run in Nanaimo Saturday evening, the RCMP says.

Cst. Gary O’Brien tells The Leader Spirit they responded to a call around 9 p.m. after a passing driver found the woman, unconscious, on Cedar Road near Bennie Road.

Bystanders tried to administer emergency first aid. BC Emergency Health Services and fire crews also came to her assistance, but she was declared dead at the scene.

“Right now, we’re looking at the incident as being a fatal hit and run under the Criminal Code,” O’Brien said. “We have no idea why the vehicle did not stay, or what vehicles are involved, so we’re asking for the public’s assistance, primarily in the eyewitness or dashcam video in that area from the the hour preceding when it was reported.”

O’Brien says the woman lived in the neighbourhood.

“It’s going to rock the community, (which is) very tight knit. Devastating incident, especially for someone of that age. So we’re doing the best we can. We’re hoping the public will step up and help us as well,” he said.

Nanaimo RCMP Traffic Services and an RCMP Accident Collision Analyst are investigating the incident. The road was closed for five hours while crews looked into the scene and collected forensic evidence.

“We certainly would like to establish the time from when this woman was walking along the highway, any vehicles passing by, anything that can help us,” O’Brien said.

He says there is likely “significant damage” to the vehicle, and that citizens should take note of any cars they see that may be consistent with this.

“If you see a vehicle that has some damage, and you say to yourself, interesting, that wasn’t damaged the day before, whether it’s related or not, it might be something that can assist us,” he said. “So give us a call.”

O’Brien says, in the case of a hit and run, the onus is on the driver to stop and assist.

“That’s required by the law. If you don’t, the jeopardy increases substantively,” he said. “We need to speak to the driver. We need to find out why that person did not stay at the scene.”

The woman’s family has been notified.

Police are asking motorists in the area to check their dashcam footage between 8 and 9 p.m. Anyone with any information is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.