Two Adelaide teens hit by truck outside school, one in critical condition

A teenage boy is fighting for life and a girl is in a serious condition after being hit by a truck outside their school.

A 16-year-old boy and girl were struck at a pedestrian crossing on Kensington Road in front of Marryatville High School, Adelaide, just after 8am on Wednesday.

Other students witnessed the shocking collision.

“It occurred at pedestrian lights,” Superintendent Narelle Kameniar said on Wednesday morning.

“Both have been taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for their injuries, there is a boy who is in a critical condition and a 16-year-old girl in a serious condition.

“It looks like the students were crossing the pedestrian crossing and the truck may have gone through a red light.

“It’s an absolute tragedy.”

The driver of the truck, a 59-year-old man, was not injured and is assisting police with inquiries into the accident.

While superintendent Kameniar would not confirm whether the driver would be charged, she said major crash investigation teams were on the scene and police would “see what happens”.

“The school is dealing with the other students who witnessed this and the whole school community, it’s obviously very distressing for them,” she said.

“There are certain things that will never leave a person’s mind and seeing something as horrendous as that this morning would certainly be one of those things.

“There were other children at the crossing … and other vehicles stopped (to assist).”

While superintendent Kameniar conceded that there were some tree branches near one of the traffic lights, she said three out of the four lights were “clearly visible”.

“There is no reason why that light should not have been seen by that driver.”

Kensington Road remains closed to all traffic between Portrush Road and Hackett Ave while Major Crash investigators examine the scene.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward and are advising motorists to avoid the area.