Residents Calling For Crosswalk After Child Killed In Traffic Accident
Posted August 20, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Flowers, sympathy notes and a couple of stuffed animals have been placed at the side of a busy Scarborough road to mark the spot where a little girl was killed in a traffic accident and local residents are fighting to ensure a similar tragedy never happens again.
The six-year-old was hit by a van on Ellesmere Road, between Victoria Park and Pharmacy Avenues, after she apparently let go of her mother’s hand and darted out into traffic Saturday afternoon.
Police say there was nothing the driver of the van could’ve done to prevent the tragedy and it’s doubtful any charges will be laid.
“When a child is hurt or killed, it affects everybody, especially in a situation like this,” said a local resident named Joe, who stopped to place some flowers at the scene of the accident.
Neighbours say J-walking is a common practice on the bustling strip and some pedestrians didn’t learn any lessons from this weekend’s fatal accident – CityNews spotted several people dodging traffic Sunday afternoon.
While there is a crosswalk just minutes from the scene of the accident, people tend to cross the street wherever they feel it’s convenient and many residents say another set of flashing yellow lights is needed.
“My sister was saying she should write to the M.P. and do something about it,” local resident Jothi Bavan said.
But police say another crosswalk probably won’t make much of a difference.
“Unfortunately a lot of people in the city can’t be bothered walking the few extra feet to the crosswalk,” Toronto Police Sgt. Larry Zimmerman said.
Residents plan to start up a petition demanding a crosswalk on that stretch of road anyway.
