A driver accused of killing a pedestrian with his SUV in a hit and run Monday afternoon in southeast Edmonton is facing several charges.
Erick Garcia has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, impaired operation causing death, exceeding 80 mg per cent causing death and criminal hit and run causing death.
Edmonton police said officers were called to an area near Mill Woods Road South and 48 Street. Police said the pedestrian died after being hit.
“At approximately 4:30 p.m., we had a pedestrian fatality in the area of 48 Street and 16 Avenue… one person has died as a result,” Sgt. Jerrid Maze with the Edmonton Police Service said.
The victim has been identified as 73-year-old Ajaib Singh Grewal.
The SUV involved in the collision was not at the scene when police arrived. The driver was arrested a short time later just a few blocks away at 36 Street and 12A Avenue.
Two months ago, a 69-year-old man died after being struck crossing the same intersection.
Resident Melissia Baldwin is adamant something needs to change at that spot.
“I’ve lived in this neighbourhood my whole life and people rip through here all the time. All the time! Every day! I go through this intersection 15 times a day,” she explained. “I drive my kids to school every morning this way and people rip through here. There needs to a be a set of lights.”
Baldwin left flowers at the scene of the crash on Tuesday. She didn’t know the man who died but saw the aftermath Monday afternoon.
“I was driving my daughter to the tutor’s about quarter after four,” she said. “I was coming from this way, going straight and when I got to the stop, we could see him on the ground.
“I just feel horrible that there wasn’t more that anybody could do.”
Monday night, Baldwin emailed the mayor, her MLA and the transportation department with her concerns about the intersection.
Watch below: A 38-year-old man is facing drunk-driving charges after a deadly hit and run on Monday that took the life of an Edmonton senior. The man was killed at a busy Mill Woods intersection. As Vinesh Pratap reports, the intersection is considered to be very dangerous by some.
“All through the day people go through this four-way stop like it’s not even there,” she said. “This needs to be changed. This needs to be fixed.
“I have four children. What if they were crossing the road?”
Area councillor Moe Banga said the City of Edmonton’s Transportation Department will conduct an investigation into the safety of the intersection, which will take into consideration the main causes of both pedestrian fatalities.
“Why is it this intersection? Whether it’s some design component to it, or is it the signs are not visible?We are looking into it so that we can make adjustments as needed.”
Banga said he is very familiar with the intersection and isn’t sure lights are the answer. There are lights at an intersection two blocks away and Banga said traffic has to flow through the area.
“I would be more inclined to see some kind of warning system… rumble strips,” he suggested. “We can’t be having lights at every intersection… But at the same time, if there are recommendations from the police investigation and also from the City of Edmonton, then if lights need to be put there yeah, I guess that’s a solution to it.”
With files from Caley Ramsay, Global News.
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