Road safety has once again been thrust into the spotlight after two people were killed in separate traffic accidents in Burnaby.
The first crash happened on Saturday around 5 a.m. at Canada Way and Ulster Street when two taxis, a Vancouver Black Top cab and a Burnaby Bonny’s Taxi, collided.
Investigators are still unclear what exactly caused the crash, but initial evidence suggests one of the taxis crossed over the centre line into oncoming traffic. Police couldn’t say which taxi crossed the centre line, but Cpl. Daniela Panesar, spokesperson for the Burnaby RCMP, confirmed the Vancouver taxi was travelling southbound on Canada Way while the Burnaby cab was headed north at the time of the crash.
The taxis weren’t carrying any passengers at the time of the accident, but both drivers were rushed to the hospital. The driver of the Black Top cab did not survive his injuries. The other sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police reported.
No other vehicles were involved in the collision, Panesar said, adding the roads were quiet at the time of the crash.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact Const. Diane Marsh with the Burnaby RCMP traffic services at 604-294-7922.
The following day around 1:50 p.m., a man was hit by a car exiting the underground parking lot at the Bob Prittie library across from Crystal Mall at Kingsborough Street and McKay Avenue.
Panesar said the evidence so far suggests the driver, who remained at the scene, did slow down to check for pedestrians before leaving the lot, but the pedestrian wasn’t seen until it was too late.
The pedestrian, an 86-year-old man from Burnaby, was taken to hospital where he died later Sunday evening.
Investigators have spoken with the driver and are now looking to speak with witnesses or anyone who may have taken photo in the area at the time of the crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact Const. Eduardo Faustino with the Burnaby RCMP traffic services.
This fatality comes only days after a pedestrian was seriously injured when she was hit by a car at Gilley Avenue and Rumble Street. Panesar said the 22-year-old woman was taken to hospital, where she remains under medical care in critical but stable condition.
While drivers should always be watching for pedestrians, Panesar said pedestrians have a responsibility to make sure they’ve been seen before crossing any streets or driveways.
Make eye contact and never assume the driver has seen you, she added.
