A 71-year-old man was killed in south Edmonton on Tuesday after being struck by a truck while walking across 17th Street in a marked crosswalk at 19th Avenue.
It happened just before 6:30 a.m., Edmonton police said.
Shortly after 7 a.m., police said 19th Avenue was closed in all directions while 17th Street southbound was closed between 23rd Avenue and 19th Avenue. Northbound 17th Street was also closed from Anthony Henday Drive to 19th Avenue.
Police could be seen investigating after the crash. Global News crews saw paramedics and firefighters at the scene as well.
The pedestrian died from his injuries on scene, police said.
Police said the 51-year-old driver of the Ford F350 truck remained at the scene and did not report any injuries.
The EPS major collision investigations section is investigating.
People who live in the area told Global News they’ve been calling the city, warning about the dangers of that crosswalk and asking for more traffic-calming measures like flashing lights.
“There’s an accident every couple of weeks,” Reghbir Sidhu said. “It’s dangerous. It’s very dangerous.”
He would like to see lights installed.
“There’s a lot of people, pedestrians, walking around to go to the shopping centre there,” Sidhu said. “Speed… could be fast because people are getting off the Henday and they’re coming off already on 110 or 100 (km/h) … and they’re coming 60 or 70 (km/h) here.”
Neighbours felt like this crossing was an accident waiting to happen.
“It was just a matter of time,” Sidhu said.
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Gurvir Sran’s family has been calling the city, reporting all the close calls there.
“My husband called them so many times,” she said. “He called them and said someone could lose a life.
“For more than a year, he’s seen so many close calls at the intersection — people crossing to the shopping plaza, traffic not slowing down.”
She wants the crosswalk to be better marked.
“Children run to the other side, even old people run to the other side. It’s very dangerous because there’s no lights,” Sran said. “In the last few months, two or three accidents happened.
“I’m scared to cross that road,” she said.
“This intersection is very busy. But it’s not just busy; it’s dangerous. Whenever pedestrians have to cross the road, it’s very dangerous for them.”
This incident is Edmonton’s fifth pedestrian fatality of 2023.
As of Oct. 3, there have been 34 serious injuries suffered in crashes that involved pedestrians in 2023, according to Christie Pelletier, director for safe mobility with the city.
Including all types of collisions, there have been 17 fatal collisions so far in 2023, resulting in 20 deaths.
In 2022, there were four fatal pedestrian collisions.
Coun. Erin Rutherford said one of the top issues people email her office about is traffic safety.
“Even with the 40 km/h in residential zones, we’re seeing a lot of people not complying with that … We’re seeing a lot of stunting.
“We have the Vision Zero street labs that’s in super high demand … We also have budget-approved things like adding speed bumps to certain roads that we know are problematic, and those are starting to be implemented, and I’ve heard from residents they are making a big difference. Also, raised crosswalks, better colouring and painting at crosswalks.
“And, ultimately, I know many are upset about things like the $100 million we put into active mode infrastructure, but that is really meant to create that separation between people that are walking or rolling and traffic to avoid these kinds of conflicts.”
Rutherford said streetlights are another way to improve safety. She brought that up during the four-year budget deliberations.
“I talked about the importance of lighting. I think lighting, both in terms of at intersections and just along active mode pathways and on sidewalks, are essential to create a sense of safety in many spheres.”
The Vision Zero team investigates an area any time there’s an incident and submits recommendations to improve safety, but Rutherford admits it shouldn’t come to that and the city needs to be proactive.
“We’ve worked a lot with administration to find ways we can intervene both in the temporary — so, for example, if it’s something like construction and traffic patterns are changing in the short-term — as well as some long-term installations like those speed bumps.”
According to Pelletier, this year the city has upgraded 42 crossings, installed seven additional Vision Zero street labs with 14 neighbourhood engagements. Five schools had safety improvements done this year. And, as of the first week of October, 87 intersection safety devices were operational.
“l would say that is being taken very seriously,” Rutherford said. “Those concerns are appreciated and brought forward.
“My heart goes out to the family, the friends. That’s someone that was loved. Any loss of life on our streets in Edmonton, including through traffic incidents, is heartbreaking.”
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