| Posted: Thursday, Jan 03, 2013 03:30 pm
A 68-year-old St. Albert woman is dead after a car struck her motorized scooter Wednesday.
Julie Jans was crossing Bellerose Drive between St. Albert Centre and Safeway in a marked crosswalk shortly after 3 p.m. when she was hit by a westbound 2009 Pontiac Vibe.
"(The car) struck the motorized scooter and its occupant, as the scooter was partway across the intersection," said St. Albert RCMP Cpl. Laurel Kading, adding that police believe the car had a green light at the time of impact.
Police also believe the 65-year-old female driver of the car, who was travelling in the right-hand lane, was unable to see the scooter, as a westbound truck in the left lane blocked her view.
"It is alleged that the Pontiac Vibe's driver was unable to see the motorized scooter due to the large truck stopped in the left-hand lane," Kading said.
The impact caused the scooter to roll onto its side. As police investigated, the scooter could be seen sitting upright in the roadway, with the victim's handbag still hanging off the handlebar.
Len DeRuiter, spokesperson at Ironwood Estates, confirmed the woman was a resident at the seniors' complex just down the street from the collision scene.
"She was a resident here for just under a year and a very, very nice lady," he said. "(She) suffered from MS and that's why she was riding a scooter."
He said the woman's family was "grief stricken."
The victim was transported to the Sturgeon Community Hospital by ground ambulance before being taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton via STARS Air Ambulance. She was later transported to the Grey Nuns Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The collision remains under investigation and RCMP said alcohol, speed, weather and road conditions do not appear to be factors.
No charges have been laid. Kading said it's too early in the investigation to comment whether charges will be laid. Police are not releasing the name of the victim or the driver.
