Jaywalking Pedestrian Hit in Chinatown

[sputnik]

I was walking to Thi Thi at 11:30 for lunch with some co-workers and while walking down 3rd Ave we heard some tires squealing. We turn around to see an elderly chinese person on the ground not moving in front of a stopped car far from any marked crosswalk or intersection. We were well past the incident at the time and chose not to stick around and gawk so we left the scene.

Police quickly blocked off the street and 2 ambulances were called. It is a pretty good chance that the person was killed in the accident. Pretty sad stuff.

Keep a heads up when driving through Chinatown. My wife and I drive down 3rd after work everyday and we always see tons of people wandering into the middle of the street.

[topmade]

very sad indeed as most of the elderly people who are down there all the time, just have no idea of the traffic system. Call it what you want, you still have to be very careful driving there.

[Altezza]

http://www.gov.calgary.ab.ca/citybea...132537_19268_0

-----------------------------------------------------------------
CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
-----------------------------------------------------------------

This morning at 11:35 a.m. Calgary Paramedics responded to
3rd Avenue and Centre Street S.E. for reports of a pedestrian
/ vehicle collision.

When Paramedics arrived, they learned that an 83 year old
female pedestrian had suffered critical, but non-life
threatening injuries as a result of a collision with a
vehicle.

Paramedics on scene quickly provided advanced life support
care and rapid transport to Foothills Hospital for further
treatment.

The Calgary Police Service is investigating the details
surrounding this incident.

[Rav4Guy]

AZN XING

[xcelr8]

Originally posted by topmade
very sad indeed as most of the elderly people who are down there all the time, just have no idea of the traffic system. Call it what you want, you still have to be very careful driving there.

they do know the traffic system
its just inconvenient for them to walk around to get to the place across the street

[Rav4Guy]

The traffic system in China Town is that people have right away and can cross anywhere... anytime.

[MudCrawler]

Originally posted by Rav4Guy
The traffic system in China Town is that people have right away and can cross anywhere... anytime.

Well id say its about time they learn our culture. Its no excuse to put all of us other drivers in danger because they chose to move to the other side of the planet.

[Weapon_R]

Pedestrians in Chinatown have zero regard for traffic laws, it was only a matter of time before this happened and its gonna keep happening til they learn to watch out for cars.

[heavyD]

Originally posted by Rav4Guy
The traffic system in China Town is that people have right away and can cross anywhere... anytime.

Hence a trip to the hospital with life threatening injuries. Pedestrians have just as much responsibility as drivers when crossing streets.

[Stoppie]

thats what i was gonna say...
it was bound to happen sometime

isn't there a law trying to be passed right now changing it from that pedistrians at cross walks don't have the right of way, cause alot of times im so close to the cross walk and they just jump right out there, leaving me no time to stop. It's just as bad as crosswalking. I don't care if u have the right of way, be sensible and use common sense.

[Sprinter]

Good to know that the old woman is alive.

Hopefully this is a good example of driving with care especially around Chinatown. I remember driving there once and there was this guy walking on the sidewalk, then he all of a sudden just bolts across me, causing my tires to screech. Funny thing is the guy got pissed at me, and kept walking down the other side of the road as if nothing happened

[infected]

There's always people all along the streets, you shouldn't be going that fast leaving you no time to stop for someone to cross the road anyways.

[l8braker]

Originally posted by Rav4Guy
The traffic system in China Town is that people have right away and can cross anywhere... anytime.

and able to park anywhere at anytime. sidewalks, in the road, handi zones, no parking lanes etc, etc.

[rc2002]

That's the worst intersection in Calgary for J-walkers. Pedestrians always hold up that intersection. I'm surprised there's not more accidents there.

[DeeK]

Not just in chinatown.. I almost smoked a lady the other day because she shot out from behind a bus and crossed the road (she was in a crosswalk, but did not stop to check for traffic). I was told directly from an officer "If you are going to hit something, just hit it, 9 times out of 10 major swerving or braking will just result in another accident anyways".

I just kept going and missed her by inches. Then got the bird and all the fun stuff from her because apparently I was at fault. Keep in mind this was in a 70 zone and I was maybe 6-8 feet from the crosswalk when she darted out.


I dunno about anyone else, but when I was growing up it was taught that you WAIT FOR TRAFFIC TO STOP BEFORE CROSSING!

I have little regard for people that do not follow that SIMPLE rule.

[slickk]

Old Lady - 65 points ! +10 Bonus points if she had a walker.

[heavyD]

Originally posted by DeeK
I dunno about anyone else, but when I was growing up it was taught that you WAIT FOR TRAFFIC TO STOP BEFORE CROSSING!

I have noticed that pedestrians are well versed in the fact that they have the right of way at a crosswalk but not so much when it comes to "looking both ways before crossing". It's like they think there is an invisible force field protecting them from drivers not paying attention. There isn't a force field and there are drivers that don't pay attention so pedestrians like I said before need to assume more responsibility.

[sh0ko]

hahaha too bad this wasnt asia.. u get hit by car.. thats kinda too shitty for u haha ppl dont relaly have a right of way there when it comes to cars haha but that sucks. i wonder what that woman is gonna get charged with if any

[QuasarCav]

I almost hit the fisherman, even with his neon vest on.

[SilverBoost]

If you hit a jaywalker you should be able to sue them for damages. At least the adults that should know better. Why should my insurance rates go up because some idiot took a gamble and lost. (And yes before someone gets into all the fine print and why we have insurance and all that crap, I'm just making a point)

And then you have the crosswalks in Calgary that if I didn't know any better would say that they are actually there to curb the population growth. I've never seen so many crosswalks on blind corners, on the crest of hills and so poorly lit in all my life.

Combine that with the affore mentioned lack of common sense that most people have when using them, I can't believe there aren't many people killed every day in calgary... and that's not even including the jaywalkers.

A lot of city planners seem to suffer from 'Head Up Ass Syndrome'.

And I should say, I'm not heartless, and I hope that woman recovers quickly, but Darwinism works 24/7 so people need to think more about avoiding it.