CALGARY – The driver of a vehicle that struck a man in his twenties in a northwest crosswalk Tuesday night has been charged.
It happened while he was crossing the street at 24 Avenue N.W. and Upton Place N.W. near the University at around 10 p.m.
The victim was taken to hospital in serious, but non-life-threatening condition, with head injuries.
The driver of the vehicle remained on scene to speak with police.
“The pedestrian was wearing dark clothing at the time and actually had ear buds in his ears. However he was in the crosswalk at the time,” CPS Staff Sgt. Paul Stacey said.
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Stacey also said police are working with the city to make the street brighter. At least one of the street lights was burnt out when the crash happened.
There have been about 70 crashes involving pedestrians in Calgary this year – which is actually down from the yearly average of 500.
The city has launched a pedestrian strategy titled Step Forward aimed at making city streets more pedestrian friendly. Recommendations, like installing beacons with flashing lights at crosswalks and reducing residential speed limits to 40 km/h, will cost the city $5 million.
“It’s relatively cheap,” Andrew King, with the City of Calgary, said. “Cheap in the context of instead of providing infrasturue for vehicles and for goods moving, moving people and safety for people is a lot cheaper and easier to do.”
Step Forward will bring recommendations to council for approval in May 2016.
– With files from Melissa Ramsay and Doug Vaessen
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