Senior struck in marked crosswalk, airlifted to hospital

A senior is seen crossing the street at a marked crosswalk moments before being struck by a car in Abbotsford. Nov. 10, 2015. (CTV)

Abbotsford's mayor says he wants city engineers to look into a crosswalk where an elderly man was struck and seriously injured Tuesday night -- one that city staffers had previously warned would be unsafe.

City documents from 2001 show staffers concerned that a crosswalk with no lights on Trethewey Street could be more dangerous for pedestrians because it would create a false sense of security.

"I am sure that our engineering department would be looking at that tomorrow morning," Mayor Henry Braun told CTV News.

The news was no surprise to residents, who say cars are notorious for not stopping on the busy arterial road.

"It's ridiculous how people don't slow down," said Tamara Trill, who said she makes a point of avoiding the crosswalk on Trethewey Street and Slocan Drive. "It's scary."

Back in 2001, an Abbotsford city transportation engineer warned a crosswalk on Trethewey Street without flashing lights or a pedestrian control would create a false sense of security for pedestrians, city documents show.

"The installation of a crosswalk was considered unsafe," engineer R. Mammel was quoted as saying in minutes of the Abbotsford Traffic Safety Advisory Committee in 2001.

"Crosswalks provided convenience, but not always safety, and that it was not in the public's best interest to provide a false sense of security.”

The committee moved to explore flashing lights on the crossing, and noted that an pedestrian-activated red light would cost $40,000 to install. The main goal was to provide safe access to a sports complex across Trethewey St., the documents say.

In 2006, the issue of the crosswalk came up again. More people were crossing the street, and a crosswalk was installed. But there is no mention of lights in those discussions, and the crosswalk that was built has signs overhead, but no lights.

Without flashing lights, it would be hard for a driver to signal to cars that he was crossing the street, said transportation planner George Poulos, with BA Group. The drivers would have to see the pedestrian himself, which makes it more likely there will be an impact.

"It's missing a critical mechanism in the ability to stop traffic," Poulos told CTV News.

Surveillance video captures the moment of impact, where the 74-year-old man was struck by a car in the final lane he is trying to cross. Police say he has serious injuries and was airlifted to a Vancouver hospital.

"The tires started squealing and we looked outside and there was someone on the ground," said Vishal Mutneja, who lives near the crosswalk.

Mutneja said his cousin had also been hit at the crosswalk.

"They should have those lights on the crosswalk so you can see from far away," Mutneja said.