The young woman who died in hospital after she was hit by a truck early Tuesday morning in southwest Edmonton has been identified by family as 29-year-old Mareanne Mariano.
“She was very loving to her mother, sisters and brother,” said her sister Marilette Mariano.
“A very loyal friend. She has been described by friends and family as a selfless person. Never expects anything in return.”
The crash happened at around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Allard neighbourhood.
Mariano was walking east across James Mowatt Trail in an unmarked crosswalk, from Desrochers Gate SW to Allard Boulevard SW, when she was struck by a Dodge Ram driven by a 43-year-old man, police said.
READ MORE: Woman, 29, dies after truck hits pedestrian in southwest Edmonton crosswalk
The driver quickly called 911, they added. Mariano was taken to hospital where she was declared dead.
Her sister said Mariano worked as a medical receptionist at MIC Medical Imaging in the Century Park area and was on her way to the bus stop when she was struck.
Police believe there may have been four or five people waiting a nearby transit stop who witnessed the incident and are calling on those people to come forward.
“We are hoping they will reach out to us, as they could have information that is helpful to our investigation,” Acting Sgt. Kamlesh Patel with the Edmonton Police Service said.
Police do not believe drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash, and no charges have been laid.
The collision happened in a newer neighbourhood being built at the southern edge of the city. On one side of the road is a condo development under construction; on the other is a farmer’s field.
“Hopefully, her death will speed up the process of getting proper marked crosswalks in this area,” Marilette Mariano said in a statement.
“Planning should start way ahead as soon as there are people living in newer communities.”
Members of the Blackmud Creek Community League are also hoping for increased safety measures at the intersection.
“Residents of Allard and Desrochers are upset about the complete lack of safety measures in place at the intersection,” community league president Rob Powell said.
“If safety comes first in the workplace, then why does it not come first in the public?”
Powell said he’s reached out to the two councillors that represent the area to ask if safety measures will be installed in 2018. If he doesn’t hear back from the city, he said he will start a petition.
Mariano’s death was Edmonton’s 29th traffic fatality of the year.
Witnesses are asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
With files from Caley Ramsay, Global News.
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