An 8-year-old boy and his 11-year-old sister are in hospital with serious injuries, after being struck by a vehicle in Glace Bay around 10 p.m. Friday night.

Paul MacNeil witnessed the aftermath of the accident. 

“There were two young children that were both on the side of the road near the curb who had been badly injured,” says MacNeil.

MacNeil had been inside watching TV, when he heard a bang and a loud scraping noise. He immediately rushed outside to see what was going on and described the scene as gruesome.

“It's kind of horrific, when you come across a scene like that. Especially with you children who were in a lot of pain,” adds MacNeil.

Billy Fraser lives across the street from where the accident happened.

“The kids lived behind me here for a couple of years, then they moved. So I knew them for a while. It breaks my heart to see them like that,” says Fraser.

Police say the boy had been driving his bicycle near the crosswalk, while his sister walked beside him. The incident is under investigation.

“At this point we determined that alcohol or drugs are not a factor in this incident and as part of the investigation the vehicle has been seized for mechanical inspection,” says Sgt. Russel Baker

The boy and girl were originally transported by ambulance to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney, then airlifted to the IWK Health Sciences Centre in Halifax.

“Right now both are at the IWK in Halifax for treatment. The boy was listed this morning as critical, while the girl remains in serious condition,” adds Sgt. Baker.

Police are asking anyone who saw the accident to come forward with information.

With files from CTV’s Kyle Moore