Another close call on St. Albert streets, and the RCMP are looking for the driver involved.
Last Thursday a 36-year-old female pedestrian was crossing St. Albert Trail in a crosswalk at St. Anne Street, the downtown access. A white car turned south from Sturgeon Road, across St. Albert Trail, and hit the pedestrian with a side-mirror. The victim was hit hard enough to break the mirror. She came within inches of being killed or seriously injured.
While the driver did stop and apparently asked if the victim was OK, the driver then got back into her car and left. Police are looking for her as this is considered a hit and run. Striking a pedestrian in a crosswalk and leaving the scene is not an act taken lightly by police.
St. Albert RCMP commander Insp. Kevin Murray said in the St. Albert Gazette Saturday that he was more than a little concerned about the six traffic deaths in the city in 2013, and said he feels many factors come into play to cause them. One factor, though, for want of a better term, is a lack of respect among motorists.
Speeding, changing lanes without signaling, running red lights, running stop signs, failing to yield the right of way, sloppy and dangerous left-hand turns against traffic and dangerous lane changes, along with what appears to be indifference to pedestrians in crosswalks, is making St. Albert a more dangerous place to drive and cross the street.
With winter's slippery, icy roads approaching, keep in mind that St. Albert RCMP traffic services has identified the vast majority of collisions in the city, roughly 80 per cent, occur on or near St. Albert trail.
Be cautious and courteous. One mistake can end someone's life.
Help the Philippines
St. Albert's Filipino community must be in shock and mourning after seeing the power and devastation of typhoon Haiyan last weekend. The typhoon may have killed an estimated 10,000 people and caused unbelievable destruction.
The federal government has pledged $5 million in aid, and is considering more. Also, the federal government pledged Monday to match dollar for dollar all donations made by Canadians.
St. Albert is a generous community, and those who are looking to help have many different options but one of the best will always be the Canadian Red Cross. The organization is known for ensuring donations get where they're needed. Find them online at www.redcross.ca or call them in toll-free at 1-800-418-1111.
