Elderly Vancouver pedestrian dies after accident on Kingsway at Earles Street

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      Vancouver police say a 78-year-old woman has become the city's sixth pedestrian to die this year after a motor-vehicle accident.

      The unnamed woman was struck while crossing the street at Kingsway at Earles Street around 8:30 p.m. on Christmas Day.

      She later died in hospital from a head injury.

      The 54-year-old driver was driving north on Earles when he made a left turn onto Kingsway. He remained on the scene and is cooperating with police. 

      Alcohol and speed do not appear to have played any role in the accident, according to the VPD.

      It's the 13th traffic death and the sixth fatality involving a pedestrian in Vancouver in 2014.

      Earlier this month, the B.C. Coroners Service issued an alert urging pedestrians and motorists to be careful. This came after five elderly pedestrians between the ages of 73 and 87 years old died in B.C. intersections over an 11-day period.

      Two of the deaths were in Vancouver, and one occurred in New Westminster, another in Kelowna, and the other in Oliver.

      In four of these fatalities, the pedestrians were hit by motor vehicles making left-hand turns in an intersection. 

      A 2012 City of Vancouver report stated that this was the most common "collision type" involving pedestrians.

      Five types of collisions were cited as responsible for two-thirds of all motor-vehicle accidents involving pedestrians:

      • Vehicle turns left while pedestrian crosses with the right-of-way in an intersection with a signal (25.6 percent).

      • Vehicle turns right while pedestrian crosses with the right of way in an intersection with a signal (17.1 percent).

      • Pedestrian is hit while crossing in the middle of a block without a traffic signal or while jaywalking (11.5 percent).

      • Vehicle goes through while a pedestrian is crossing at a stop sign or a crosswalk (6.9 percent).

      • Pedestrian is hit while crossing a driveway or a laneway (6.5 percent).

      Three intersections along Kingsway (Joyce Street, Victoria Drive, and East 12th Avenue) were among the top 20 pedestrian collision locations between 2005 and 2010, according to the report.

      The spate of pedestrian accidents has promped Vancouver journalist Jane Macdougall to create PedViz to make people more visible when they're walking at night.

      She works with disabled adults who make reflective accessories to enhance pedestrian safety.

      Macdougall launched the initiative after her sister-in-law, Roz Macdougall, was injured in a crosswalk by a hit-and-run driver.

      PedViz's reflective tassel fobs are visible at night and can be attached to a purse.
      PedViz

      Comments

      23 Comments

      Jan Mitchell

      Dec 26, 2014 at 2:27pm

      It's awesome that Charlie, as usual, is bringing this important issue to public attention. I have to say, it isn't just seniors and people with special needs who who ought to be wearing reflective clothes/accessories, it needs to be all pedestrians, period! I walk and drive and when I walk, I have flashing lights on my coat and backpack. Vancouver is an unusually dark city in winter, and I am baffled by the fact that so many pedestrians here wear black and carry black umbrellas. I've come close more than once to hitting someone; people, when you wear black you are virtually invisible, especially on low lit side streets. Second, people, get your noses out of your bloody phones when crossing at intersections! Can I say it any stronger? Let's start a "winter bright" movement!

      Shon Togan

      Dec 26, 2014 at 3:56pm

      Whren I think that all it takes to get blown away by cops in this town is to wander around with a 2 by 4, I ask myself why the cops aren't quite as trigger happy with idiot drivers. These inbreds do a lot more damage blasting through a crosswalk full of stroller-pushers and the elderly, as they urgently make their way home to a can of spaghetti-O's and reruns of Pawn Stars.
      It's a shame they can't catch a bullet or two for "reckless disregard" while they're driving like morons.
      I mean - wouldn't it be cool to see some low-life scumbag who insists on blocking the crosswalk in their Ford 1500 get their heads blown off? Talk about non-compliance...

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      James Blatchford

      Dec 26, 2014 at 4:00pm

      ..or, she could have been lit up like a Christmas tree but the driver was on his phone.

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      @Jan Mitchell

      Dec 26, 2014 at 4:08pm

      If you are not competent to operate a vehicle safely, you should not have one.
      Pedestrians have custom on their side; that you are a selfish woman who chooses to operate a dangerous engine, apparently without competence, is your problem. I do not have to change my wardrobe because we have a population of people who are incapable of driving.

      @Jan Mithcell

      Dec 26, 2014 at 7:13pm

      You're exactly right - what you're wearing earns you whatever you get.
      No doubt you're consistent in conveying that to young women who've been traumatized because of, you know, "what they were wearing".
      Give. that. empty. head. a. shake.

      sticky

      Dec 26, 2014 at 10:48pm

      There is some weird animosity in the comments here.

      Focus on the intent of the messages...there's no downside to wearing things that make you more visible at night.

      Lighten up and stop sounding so condescending.

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      in Norquay, again

      Dec 27, 2014 at 12:34am

      How many times do warnings about safety in Norquay have to do unheeded? That area around Kingsway and Earles is dangerous – this is just the last of pedestrian fatalities in this part of town.
      The City of Vancouver just extracts DCLs and CACs from Norquay and gives nothing back. The only part of the Norquay Neighbourhood Village Plan that's implemented is the bit about much higher density. Public benefits are nowhere to be found. It's all take, no give. And people are getting killed.

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      @sticky

      Dec 27, 2014 at 1:32am

      Listen sweet-cheeks - I'm sure that rat-bag poncho you bought from that street orphan in Costa Rica is simply perfect for that grotty, "down-on-the-farm, overnight-amongst farm-animals" look, but there's a reason good looking, smartly-dressed urban types don't wear white after Labour Day.
      Little thing we call "fashion".
      Kay sweetie?

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      @sticky

      Dec 27, 2014 at 2:42am

      As the boomers age, we are going to see more of this. We already have a human rights code so that mentally infirm people do not need to hear things that upset them. Are we going to have a dress code so that unsafe drivers can pretend they're not disabled, still "fit", too?

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      Steve Cooley

      Dec 27, 2014 at 7:08am

      To add to the comments about dark clothing, notice the picture with this article. Both pedestrians are in black. It is a day time picture, but why is it that most of our stylish clothing is dark? I do notice more high visibility clothing being worn at any time of day, but those people who choose high visibility clothing are in the minority.

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