Pedestrian in critical condition after crash near Courtenay, B.C.

A pedestrian was taken to hospital with critical injuries following a crash Tuesday morning on Vancouver Island.

Mounties say a pedestrian remains in hospital with critical injuries following a crash Tuesday morning on Vancouver Island.

First responders were called to the collision scene north of Courtenay on Highway 19A, near the intersection with Smith Road, at approximately 6:30 a.m., the Comox Valley RCMP detachment said in a news release.

The driver of the vehicle and a witness “provided potentially life-saving first aid to the victim” before firefighters and paramedics arrived to transport the pedestrian to hospital in critical condition, according to police.

The driver remained at the scene and is fully co-operating with investigators, the news release said.

“Investigators are collaborating with the ICARS (Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service) to establish the exact cause of this collision,” Const. Monika Terragni said in the release.

Forensic identification services are also assisting with the investigation, police said.