The Sept. 5, 2013, death of an 88-year-old Scarborough pedestrian may have been part of the impetus for the installation of traffic lights at an intersection presently containing only crosswalks. The pedestrian lived at the Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Seniors Residence near the intersection of Scunthorpe Road and Milner Avenue. On the day of the accident, the victim was crossing the street at that intersection on his motorized scooter when he was fatally struck by a truck.
Area residents, including many of the approximately 200 residents of the retirement home, have complained for quite some time that the intersection is not safe for pedestrians due to the increasing speed of vehicles on Milner. Until recently, traffic studies have failed to indicate a need for traffic lights at the intersection. Recent studies, though, show that the prevailing speeds on Milner have increased, creating a need for the lights.
Many residents had stopped using the crosswalk because of safety concerns. Although vehicles are required to stop for pedestrians inside the crosswalk, the March study indicates that as many as 16 vehicles failed to stop during an eight-hour period. Area residents are hoping that the traffic lights will make it safer for them to cross the street in order to attend church or go shopping on Sheppard Avenue. The deputy mayor of Toronto, however, continues to urge caution for all pedestrians.
Pedestrian-vehicle collisions often result in serious injuries or death, as demonstrated by this article, since pedestrians have no structural protection against the mass of a moving vehicle. The death of a loved one in a pedestrian accident can result in emotional trauma as well as significant financial losses. Families who have experienced such an event may want to speak with a lawyer to see if it would be possible to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the party or parties liable for their loved one’s death.
Source: InsideToronto.com, “Traffic lights to replace a crosswalk where senior fatally struck on Milner Avenue“, August 14, 2014
Source: InsideToronto.com, “Traffic lights to replace a crosswalk where senior fatally struck on Milner Avenue“, August 14, 2014
