An elderly man in a scooter has survived being hit by a dump truck on Sidney’s Beacon Avenue today.
Just before noon today, police and emergency crews responded to the collision at the intersection of Beacon Avenue and Resthaven Drive.
“Unfortunately the dump truck driver just didn’t see him and did strike him,” said Constable Scott Seutter with Sidney North Saanich RCMP, adding the victim suffered a non-life threatening injury and was taken to Victoria General Hospital for an examination.
A dump truck was travelling south on Resthaven and was attempting to make a left hand turn going east on Beacon Avenue, but allegedly didn’t see the man, who was driving a motor assisted wheelchair in the intersection, travelling north.
Seutter said the elderly man was “rightfully in the crosswalk and was in the right of way.”
“Once he did strike him — (the truck driver) sort of knocked him over in his wheelchair — dragged him a short distance underneath the dump truck,” said Seutter.
Eventually becoming aware that something was caught underneath his truck, the driver stopped and bystanders came to help the elderly man. Seutter said the truck driver then backed his truck off.
The victim was reported to be in his late 60s or early 70s.
“I did speak with him in the back of the ambulance,” Seutter said. “He is in good spirits.”
A witness who lives in Sidney but wished not to be named, said he was driving towards the scene and saw a man lying on the ground. He said he recognized the man as John Salvador, his neighbour. Police have not confirmed the victim’s identity.
Police are considering charging the truck driver for failing to yield to a pedestrian.
“Our officers are engaged in taking statements, photos of the scene, doing commercial vehicle review of the documentation that’s in this rig and speaking with the company managers.”
