Family of woman hit by bus demands safety measures for pedestrians

MONTREAL – The Srey family is still in shock over the loss of their loved one, Sayam Srey.

“We came here from Cambodia, escaping so many dangerous things,” her emotional brother Penh Srey told Global News.

“War, land mines, 20 years in the Killing Fields, so it’s very disappointing for me to see her pass away like she did, just crossing the street.”

On Sunday, the 67-year-old woman was walking back from a depanneur at the corner of Rosmont Blvd. and St-Vallier Street, when she was hit by a city bus.

She suffered injuries to the head and later died in hospital.

The bus was driving out of a complicated roundabout connected to the metro station when Sayam was struck.

She apparently had a green light in the crosswalk when the incident happened.

Police are still investigating exactly how the accident occurred but the family believes it was preventable.

Shrey’s sister-in-law Jennifer believes the city should step in and install a safer system.

“I’m concerned because there’s no signal for pedestrians versus the buses,” she said. “It seems as though there was some sort of conflict with who had the right of way. They both had a green light but she was in the cross walk.”

The Srey family aren’t the only ones concerned about crossing that intersection.

There’s a seniors residence nearby and some neighbours say they don’t feel safe near the bus roundabout.

“Sometimes the buses turn when they’re really suppose to stop, but they don’t, they just rush by,” one neighbour said.

Meanwhile, the victim’s brother and family are just trying to get through each day while making funeral preparations for their sister.

“For me it’s very hard. It hurts, I just can’t stop thinking about it.”