A man remains in critical condition at hospital after he was hit by a car near Boundary Road last month.
According to the Burnaby RCMP’s monthly report for July and August, officers were called to Grandview Highway near Boundary Road where a man was hit by an oncoming car in the westbound HOV lane at about 6 p.m. on Aug. 20. After interviewing several witnesses, investigators determined the victim had been panhandling at an intersection near Boundary Road and was hit when the traffic light turned green.
“At the time, he had just taken money from the passenger-side of a vehicle that was stopped at the traffic lights. As the traffic light changed to green, the (victim) attempted to dash across the two remaining lanes and back onto the sidewalk,” the report stated.
According to Burnaby RCMP, before he made it to the sidewalk an oncoming car hit the victim.
He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition at this time, the report added.
Investigators have determined that the driver of the vehicle that struck the victim wasn’t able to see the victim running across the street because of the sun, which was beaming down on the westbound traffic.
According to Burnaby RCMP, this is another reminder of the dangers of panhandling in high-traffic areas. While the activity is a common occurrence across the Lower Mainland, there can be “serious negative consequences,” the report stated.
“The motorist is placed at a distinct disadvantage in such cases where those on foot move rapidly between vehicles and are not always clearly visible,” the report added.
Burnaby RCMP is reminding drivers to be cautious at all intersections, especially when pedestrians are present.
