A four-year-old girl has died from injuries after being hit by a car on Monday afternoon, said Winnipeg police.
The second pedestrian in the collision, the girl’s mother, remains in hospital.
Both were taken to hospital in critical condition after being hit near the Slaw Rebchuk Bridge, on northbound Isabel Street between Ross Avenue and Logan Avenue.
The family is is heartbroken, said Dorota Blumczyńska, the executive director of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba.
“The husband is in terrible shock. He’s devastated and he continues to express disbelief as to how this could happen,” she said.
“He hasn’t really had the opportunity, I think, to really begin to take any of this in but he is surrounded by his community and extended family and loved ones and we continue to be with the family to support them in whatever ways we can.”
Blumczyńska said the family moved to Canada about two months ago and moved into IRCOM housing last month.
Where the car struck the pair was just steps away from where the family was living.
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“There’s a lot of shock. There were children, there were adults and staff who witnessed the accident. We have had grief counselors on site and we will have them here again today. We are working to support the children who witnessed the accident as it’s a tremendous shock.”
People who were walking near the intersection told Global News there have been a few near-misses before.
“The traffic goes so fast, and a lot of time no one stops,” said one woman. “I’ve had times people still go through — even when the lights are going there, they still go through.”
Blumczyńska said she wants to look at the issue in the future.
“Road safety is an issue in every community. There are thousands of children that live in the Centennial neighbourhood and hundreds that have to cross Isabel to go to school,” she said.
“So we will have to ask some hard questions and look at what else needs to be done on a community level to ensure everyone’s safety.”
There are typically crossing guards at this cross walk in place by the Winnipeg School Division. They are there before classes, during lunch break and after school.
The division released a statement Wednesday asking for drivers to slow down and be mindful of pedestrians.
Police are still working to determine exactly where the pair crossed the road, if the lights of the crosswalk were activated and if there was anything blocking the view of the driver.
“We know who the driver is, the driver has been spoken to and they are cooperating with police,” Cst. Tammy Skrabek said.
“So it’s early to determine whether or not charges will be warranted.”
WATCH: Winnipeg police call for witnesses to help in fatal collision investigation
Police are continuing to investigate and urge anyone who witnessed the incident – including bus drivers, truck drivers, waste management operators, or anyone with a video or dash camera – to contact the Traffic Division at 204-986-7085 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).
They’re also reminding drivers to stay alert and watch for anyone trying to cross the street at crosswalks or other intersections.
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