Two Vancouver Island boys were struck by a bus when their toboggan slid onto an icy residential street in Colwood Wednesday, with one youngster winding up pinned beneath the vehicle.
Mounties say the friends, aged nine and 11, were zipping down a snowy driveway when they bounced onto Stornoway Drive and found themselves in the path of a BC Transit vehicle.
"The bus was going a little bit slower than normal just due to the snow and road conditions, but it was moving when the toboggan went onto the road," said Cpl. Cory Bayda.
Bus passengers and neighbours rushed to help, but the older boy was trapped under the front axle of the bus until firefighters arrived to lift the vehicle off the ground.
The child was taken to Victoria General Hospital as a precaution, but Bayda said it appears both boys surprisingly sustained only minor injuries.
"They were very fortunate… anytime there's an accident involving children being hit by a vehicle, we always assume it's going to involve serious injuries."
Transit spokeswoman Maureen Sheehan said the driver noticed the children and hit the brakes, but wasn't able to stop in time.
"He's an experienced driver with a clean driving record," Sheehan said. "We're very happy that the children are okay… and thankful that things turned out the way they did and the situation wasn't worse."
RCMP say their investigation is nearly closed, and they do not expect to recommend charges.
"It's pretty evident that the driver of the bus was not at fault at all. He was driving well under the speed limit on a residential street," Bayda said.
