‘Make eye contact’: police urge extra caution amid spate of vehicle-pedestrian collisions

Winnipeg police are urging motorists and pedestrians to exercise extra caution at intersections following a rash of collisions across the city, including one that claimed the life of a woman.

“Having the right of way does not make you safe,” Insp. Helen Peters of the Winnipeg Police Service’s traffic division said during a news conference Monday morning.

“This isn’t just about who’s at fault. This is about keeping each other safe and doing everything we can as drivers, motor vehicles or pedestrians to help each other out and navigate our roads.”

Police said a woman in her 80s was struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign while turning right onto eastbound Roblin Boulevard from Hunterspoint Road on Sept. 29.

The woman was taken to hospital in stable condition but died Thursday from her injuries.

The driver has been identified and Peters said charges are being considered as the investigation continues.

“Sometimes it depends on the number of witnesses that can provide that statement, but also it sometimes depends on the victim themselves to be able to provide a statement to us,” she said, explaining that investigators sometimes wait for an injured person to recover enough to provide an account.

“Sometimes we pause, hoping that we’ll be able to talk to that person involved and we’re just waiting. So to ensure that we made the correct charge, maybe there’s more charges that might need to be made.

“If that opportunity doesn’t come, then we have to proceed with the information that we have.”

In another collision Thursday, a 69-year-old man was charged with impaired driving after two people riding motorized mobility scooters were struck by a vehicle.

Const. Stephen Spencer said the victims, both in their 60s, were at the intersection of St. Anne’s Road and Bonita Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. when a driver turning left onto Bonita struck them.

Both were thrown from their scooters and taken to hospital in stable condition.

The driver remained at the scene and is facing two impaired driving-related charges. The investigation remains ongoing.

Several other recent collisions have resulted in charges against motorists.

On Sept. 11, a child was struck by a vehicle cutting through a parking lot at a retail location on the 1600 block of Kenaston Boulevard.

The child was rushed to hospital in unstable condition, and later upgraded to stable.

Police said the driver remained at the scene and was charged with several offences, including careless driving, disobeying rules of the road on a private property or parking lot, and failing to exercise due care for a pedestrian. The driver was also issued a Manitoba Public Insurance serious offence notice.

Another collision in the early morning hours of Oct. 5 sent a man in his 30s to hospital after he was struck by a vehicle turning south onto Arlington Street at Wellington Avenue.

The pedestrian was sent to hospital in stable condition, while the driver, also in their 30s, was charged with driving imprudently.

On Oct. 6, a woman in her 70s was hit trying to cross Elizabeth Road at the intersection of De Bourmont Avenue by a vehicle that failed to stop at a four-way intersection. She was hospitalized and the investigation remains ongoing.

Police are trying to determine if there is a common thread for the spat of crashes.

“What is the reason for them? Where are they located? Crosswalks?” she said. “We see them in parking lots. We see pedestrians just on the side of the road getting ready to cross that have been impacted rather than already crossing the street.”’

Peters said police are urging motorists to be cautious approaching intersections and crosswalks, while also reminding pedestrians to be alert when facing oncoming vehicles.

“The best ways to keep ourselves safe is actually to make eye contact with each other when we’re out there on the road,” she said. “As motorists, make eye contact with pedestrians, so you know that they see you coming, and vice versa. Pedestrians, make eye contact with oncoming drivers.”

Peters also said extra caution must be taken as winter driving conditions loom on the horizon.

She also warned of potential challenges with the move to permanent daylight time for motorists and children while they’re walking to school while it’s still dark out.

Peters encouraged pedestrians to wear bright or reflective clothing.

“Black is a favourite colour of many, many people, but when you combine that with a low-lit environment, you’re going to blend into the landscape,” she said.

scott.billeck@winnipegfreepress.com