Local

Accident raises concern

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Category: Local News

Created on Monday, 31 October 2011 09:23

Written by Austin M. Davis

by Austin M. Davis

At noon on Monday, a teenage boy successfully jaywalks across Sherwood Drive. Two days earlier, a 60-year-old man was struck by a vehicle in nearly the same spot and around the same time.

Residents of the community are concerned that Saturday’s accident could happen again.

The 3800 block of Sherwood Drive is near two high schools and an elementary school. There are three bus stops, a strip mall, a Safeway, and a gas station. People of all ages are frequently crossing the street and a lack of crosswalks makes it very dangerous.

“This could happen to anybody,” says Alex Schneider. “Drivers don’t stop.”

Schneider, a Grade 12 student at Archbishop M.C. O’Neill high school, admits sometimes he and his friends will cross in the middle of the street.

“It’s very scary,”  said Schneider’s mother.

The neighbourhood is “filled with kids,” and  drivers rarely drive the speed limit (SAID WHO??? They can’t both say it).

Schneider and his mom are just two of many concerned residents that live on the street.

Cassandra Foley-Smith has lived on Sherwood for 10 years. She says that accidents like Saturday’s are “bound to happen” because “drivers are always speeding.”

Foley-Smith also has children and is worried about the lack of crosswalks in the area.

She questioned why there are no speed bumps to prevent tragedies from happening on her street again.

Other people in the community are suggesting an increased police presence or flashing pedestrian crossing signs. There are no four-way intersections in between Pasqua and Argyle, making it difficult to cross at a corner.

The 60-year-old man who was struck on Saturday is still in surgical ICU at the General Hospital. He suffered head trauma and a broken neck.

A traffic investigation closed the street between Argyle Street and Lewvan Drive for four hours on Saturday. Charges have not been laid on the driver of the car.

Reports state that the man got off a bus and crossed southbound. Two cars were traveling west on Sherwood. One vehicle stopped to let the man cross and the other driver did not see him until it was too late.

There are only two crosswalks for the seven blocks on Sherwood Drive in between Argyle and Pasqua. The heavy traffic, high speeds, and frequent jaywalking create a frightening equation for drivers, pedestrians, and the community.