A 92-year-old man has become Richmond’s first pedestrian fatality of the year — and local residents fear it may not be the last.
The elderly man was struck by a vehicle just after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8 in the 2000 block of Steveston Highway, west of No. 1 Road, close to the intersection with Fourth Avenue.
He was taken by ambulance to hospital but, according to Richmond RCMP, later succumbed to his injuries.
Alcohol was not a factor in the fatal accident and the driver, who is co-operating with police, remained at the scene.
It’s not clear, as yet, whether speed was a factor or whether the man was struck while using a marked crosswalk.
However, Hugh Mackay, who lives close to where the accident happened, said he wasn’t surprised to hear the sad news.
“It was a rainy, dark night. I didn’t see the accident, but my daughter came in from work and said she saw paramedics giving the man CPR,” Mackay told the Richmond News.
“There’s a crosswalk right there, but it doesn’t have flashing lights or anything. There doesn’t appear to be any witnesses, but it looks as though the man was thrown further down the road and the car involved hit another vehicle nearby.
“People come speeding along Steveston Highway all the time, well above the 60 km/h limit.”
The problem, added Mackay, is that, heading west through the intersection with No. 1 Road, the street narrows to two lanes.
“Maybe we need to reduce the speed limit?” he said.
“Even when one of the police officers was here to investigate the next day or so, I went out to speak to him. As cars whizzed past, he asked if they normally drove this fast.
“I have lots of old neighbours that use the crosswalk there all the time. I’d be worried for them.
“One of my other neighbours used to park one of his cars on Steveston Highway, but it kept getting side-swiped. There’s lots of dangerous over-taking, especially close to Fourth Avenue.”
The police investigation into the accident is ongoing.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the man’s family at this time,” said Richmond RCMP’s Const. Adriana Peralta.
Even though winter is over, Peralta emphasized the need for drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution.
“It can still be difficult to see out there on those dark, rainy evenings.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has video from a dash camera or surveillance camera should contact the Richmond RCMP Road Safety Unit at 604-278-1212.
