The Tuesday morning rush hour ended in tragedy when a 73-year-old woman was struck and killed by a truck travelling through Victoria's Chinatown.
Around 8:30 a.m., a truck was in the process of turing right from Government Street onto Fisgard when it collided with the woman on her bike. Emergency crews quickly arrived and began lifesaving efforts, but the woman succumbed to her injuries.
Yellow tape was draped around the intersection for much of the morning as police conducted their investigation, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers that included Anne Munro.
Walking with a cane, Munro was recently struck by a car at a crosswalk near Quadra and Fisgard Street. Nothing was broken, but the collision left Munro with significant bruising on the side of her hip. Tuesday's fatality doesn't come as a surprise.
“People don't pay attention anymore. It's sad when people die from idiotic driving,” she said. “People need to go back to school and learn how to drive again.”
Employees of a nearby Starbucks didn't see the collision, but quickly noticed a crowd had gathered at a corner underneath the Chinatown gates before emergency crews arrived.
At the QV Cafe & Bakery across the street, Karen Madsen also wasn't aware anything had happened until an ambulance arrived at the scene.
“It's quite sad. I'm a little heartbroken,” said Madsen, who also wasn't shocked by the fatality. “We need more room for bikes. Drivers are too aggressive on the roads. They are in too much of a hurry.”
Rob Caunter is an avid cyclist who rides through the area on a regular basis. Given the straightness of Government Street, he doesn't view the intersection as a dangerous one and has never worried for his own safety when riding through the area.
“It's just pure bad luck. That's why they call them accidents,” he said while watching officers at the scene. “This is the first accident I've seen here in I don't know long...It's a real shame for whoever it is and their family.”
Police said the driver of the truck is cooperating as the investigation continues. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call 250-995-7654.
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