CALGARY – A Calgary senior hit by an SUV in Kensington several weeks ago has died from her injuries.
Lillian Conrad, 86, was one of two women hit while using a marked crosswalk at Kensington Road and 11 A Street N.W. on August 18th.
Her death has sparked calls for heightened pedestrian safety measures.
Councillor Druh Farrell said the city is looking at ways to increase pedestrian safety — and a review is expected to be completed next year.
“If you look at today and all the activity that’s happening along Kensington road, it’s impossible to go the speed limit and be safe,” Farrell said. “So it makes sense you would lower the speed limit in a highly populated shopping district like this.”
The collision happened just before 8 p.m. It’s believed the setting sun may have been a factor.
“This is not normal. Our goal should be zero deaths in the city of Calgary, both by driving and walking.”
Sergeant Dean Vegso of Calgary Police says drivers need to take responsibility.
“As a driver, things can happen, whether it’s fog or snow or in this case sun in the eyes or in the windshield. The onus is on the driver to drive safely,” Vegso said.
There have been nearly 8,300 crashes involving pedestrians in Calgary in the last 16 years. This is the sixth pedestrian death in 2014.
“More and more people are walking in Calgary. We’re trying to encourage pedestrian activity, trying to encourage walkable communities and this flies in the face of the type of city we’re trying to build,” Farrell said.
Police say charges are expected to be laid against the driver.
A pedestrian safety blitz will be launched this week to kick off the beginning of the school year.
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