Two students who were struck by a vehicle Friday morning as they walked along Edward Milne Road are expected to make a full recovery, says EMCS principal Patrick Swinburnson.
The incident happened at 11:14 a.m. on Edward Milne Road, where a white sedan driven by a “new” driver lost control, colliding with students walking along the road, said Sooke RCMP Cpl. Joe Holmes.
A teenage boy and girl, one with a broken leg, were taken to hospital.
On Friday, Swinburnson wrote to parents and guardians, informing them of the incident and supplying them with online resources for youth who might want to learn more about their responses.
The Sooke School District initiated its critical incident response team and school counsellors were also made available to students.
When school resumed Monday, students appeared to be in high spirits, Swinburnson said. The girl who was struck by the vehicle returned to school in a wheelchair, but appeared happy.
“We seem to be pretty resilient. The important thing is everyone is going to be OK, but I was worried, to be honest with you,” Swinburnson said.
Bonnie Leadbetter, a professor of psychology based at the University of Victoria’s Centre for Youth and Society, said the incident, while stressful to everyone involved, is a good opportunity for parents to open up a conversation with their teens about road safety.
“Kids will no doubt be upset, but people respond in different ways to these type of things,” she said, “but now is the time to talk to them about road safety, driving, even about walking safely on the roads.”
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but speed and inexperience appear to be factors, Holmes said.
There was no indication that alcohol was involved in the incident.
Police would not say whether the driver was also a student at the school, but Holmes said she is classified as a “new” driver.
Charges are expected to be laid under the Motor Vehicle Act.