The grieving family of an elderly Burnaby man wants answers after he was struck and killed by a mobility scooter more than a week ago while waiting for the light to change at an intersection.
Julio Chavez, 91, was taken to hospital on Sept. 11 when he was hit by a four-wheeled, fully covered scooter while standing on the sidewalk at Edmonds Street and Mary Avenue. He died a short time later from his injuries.
His family on Sunday questioned why there are few rules and regulations when it comes to driving a scooter on public sidewalks and roadways.
“We are all devastated by this,” said granddaughter Kita Eserve, 37. “People are using these scooters and there are no rules or regulations around them. It is awful what happened. We are all in shock. We didn’t think something like this could happen. That is what breaks our heart.”
Chavez, who lived close to where the accident happened, had come out of a store and pushed the light signal changer, and was waiting on the sidewalk when he was blindsided by the scooter, said Eserve.
Following the tragedy, Burnaby RCMP issued a media release asking for any witnesses to come forward. No one at the Burnaby RCMP detachment could comment Sunday on the incident or why no one has yet been charged.
Eserve said they believe the driver of the scooter, a woman, stayed at the scene.
And she said an incident is being shown on YouTube in which a woman on a scooter similar to the one that killed her father was involved in an accident in Burnaby six weeks ago.
“When this happened the police said it was not the first time,” said Eserve.
She said her grandfather, who used a walker to help him get around, was knocked flying by he scooter. “He was on the sidewalk waiting when he was hit. He hit the back of his head on the ground and that is what killed him.”
Chavez had just had bypass surgery a month ago, and he was recovering nicely, his granddaughter said.
“He was doing quite well after the bypass surgery,” she said. “He was quite vibrant. Everyone in the area knew my grandfather.”
Eserve said it is time to clamp down on unlicensed and uninsured scooters being driven on sidewalks. And she notes the area where the accident happened is busy and used by people of all ages.
“In that area there are a lot of elderly people and there are schools nearby. It could have been a schoolchild.”
Anyone with information regarding the fatal accident is asked to contact Burnaaby RCMP traffic section at 604-294-7922. If you want to remain anonymous, call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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