Whitehorse pedestrians feel less safe downtown after woman's death
Last Updated: Friday, August 22, 2008 | 10:29 AM CT
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Some Whitehorse residents say they want something done to make Second Avenue safer to cross, after an Alberta woman was hit by a car and killed earlier this week.
The 26-year-old woman from Westlock, Alta., was rushed to hospital after a car struck her at the crosswalk near Whitehorse City Hall Tuesday evening. She died in hospital a short while later.
Whitehorse RCMP have not released her name.
None of the car's occupants were hurt.
Police are investigating the incident, and have not said if charges will be laid.
The woman's death marked the second time in a week a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle in the Yukon capital. On Monday, a 57-year-old Whitehorse woman was struck as she was trying to cross the Alaska Highway.
Some pedestrians have said walking in downtown Whitehorse can be dangerous, especially on Second Avenue.
"I think it's really terrible. I've noticed myself that there's especially a bad spot at Lowe Street," resident Stewart Jamieson told CBC News on Thursday, adding that drivers often run at least one set of red lights in that area.
"I wish that the police or the bylaw or something would pay attention to some of these particularly notorious spots a bit more, and do a little bit of prevention," he said.
Police stage re-enactment
As part of the RCMP's investigation, officers shut down three blocks of Second Avenue on Thursday morning to investigate the scene. At the crosswalk, they timed a woman as she walked from the curb to the middle of the street.
"It's very unfortunate that a life passes before we acknowledge the safety [of the street]," said Leanne Brassard, who was sweeping up at a nearby restaurant.
Brassard said the city should provide more education about the hazards of crossing Second Avenue, especially to tourists and newcomers.
"For people that live here, we all know how dangerous it is and I think we take more precautions," she said.
"I understand this young person was a visitor here, so they don't know how hairy scary Second Avenue is. So it's the education of not just people that live here, but those that are visiting as well, because they don't know."
About half an hour after RCMP closed the street for their investigation, they reopened it to traffic.
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