An employee of the District of Oak Bay is dead after being hit by vehicle while on the job in the Greater Victoria municipality on Wednesday morning.
The collision took place on Monterey Avenue near the Oak Bay Fire Department and police department around 8 a.m., according to Oak Bay police.
While the driver of the black SUV was sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said the municipal staff member was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 52-year-old man had been working over a manhole cover on the sidewalk, Oak Bay police Chief Const. Mark Fisher told Global News. He was a new employee of the district and a father of young children, he said.
“It’s tragic. I just spent an hour-and-a-half with the family of the deceased,” Fisher told Global News. “It’s disturbing, it’s frustrating and it’s upsetting … you hope at any point in time that when you or your loved ones goes to work that they’re going to come home safe.”
A GoFundMe has identified the worker as Steve Seekins. He leaves behind a wife and children.
Fisher said the 66-year-old driver of the black SUV is a resident of Victoria. She came around the corner at a “high rate of speed” and hit the man, who was thrown into the nearby park.
He did have markers around his work site that were visible to motorists, Fisher confirmed.
“We still have an officer with the driver at the hospital,” he said.
“We have had some reports of erratic driving prior to the accident scene in that area, so I would ask any individuals who have either witnessed that driving or may have video of some of that driving behaviour, or the accident itself, if they could please contact police.”
In a statement, CUPE Local 374, which represents the municipal workers, said the news Wednesday morning was “shocking and devastating.
“We want to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and co-workers of the deceased individual.
“Today, our focus has been on ensuring all our members have the support they need and that will continue to be our focus over the coming days.
“We want to thank the first responders who responded to the accident and handled the emergency with expertise and professionalism.”
A witness to the crash told Global News the worker was hit by a speeding car, which then crashed into a tree. Officers at the scene of the crash could be seen photographing a tree on Wednesday.
Police have now closed Monterey Avenue between Cranmore Street and Oak Bay Avenue. The cause of the crash remains unknown and a collision analyst is on-scene.
Saanich police are asking any witnesses or those with dashcam or cell phone footage to contact them at media@saanichpolice.ca.