Two hit on 100 Avenue on same day

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – Two people were injured on 100 Avenue Oct. 21 in two separate incidents on the busy roadway. RCMP have charged a driver in one collision and are looking for those involved in or who witnessed the second.

The first incident took place around 6 p.m. Friday at the 100 Avenue and 97 Street crossing. According to RCMP, the driver of a black pickup truck stopped at the crosswalk and then backed up into a red car. The truck then pulled forward and struck a 12-year-old girl causing minor injuries. RCMP say the driver of the truck left the scene after speaking to the driver of the red car.

Staff Sergeant Mac Richards said the RCMP wants to speak to the two drivers as well as anyone who may have witnessed the collision.

The second incident took place two hours later at 100 Avenue and 101 Street, where a cyclist was struck by a vehicle. The cyclist was taken to hospital for treatment and the driver was charged with failing to yield to a pedestrian.

“Two in a day is far too much,” Richards said. “This is just part and parcel of the whole thing about driving. It’s a matter of people paying attention. In town you never know what’s going to happen. Kids, pedestrians do odd things at times, but as a driver you have to be proactive and watch for potential things that could happen.”

Speaking to the larger problem of the relationship between pedestrians and traffic on 100 Avenue, which is a provincial highway, Staff Sergeant Richards said a lot of the problem is just a matter of slowing down and looking for people on sidewalks who may cross the road. Richards said he is not certain if more lights on the avenue would make a difference of not.

Failing to yield for a pedestrian carries with it a fine of $575 and four demerit points. Richards said drivers are required to wait until the pedestrian has cleared their lane before proceeding. But he cautions about being too quick to accelerate once a pedestrian has cleared the lane as it may signal a driver in the next lane to drive into a crossing pedestrian. Richards said drivers also need to be careful when they see a vehicle stopped in one of the two lanes as it is as likely to be a pedestrian crossing as it is a vehicle turning the corner.