A man was hit by a vehicle on Burrard Avenue Friday afternoon as he attempted to cross the road via a now defunct crosswalk.
The incident happened at around 4 p.m. just across the road from 7-Eleven. The man received injuries to his head and was knocked unconscious for a period of time. Vanderhoof RCMP and paramedics attended the scene. The man was taken to St. John Hospital via ambulance.
Meryl and Shaun Perry who own Nugrowth Therapeutics on Burrard said they heard a loud noise out on the road near their business but didn’t think anything of it until they heard sirens.
Shaun went out to offer help and said by the time the man was lifted into the ambulance he was talking again.
“He knew where he was but he had no idea what had happened,” said Shaun.
The old crosswalk where the accident happened was put out of commission by the District of Vanderhoof earlier in the year.
Paul Carver, Public Works Superintendent says the crosswalk was removed because it was thought to be in a dangerous position.
“It’s unsafe because there’s too much happening there – it’s busy and it’s not signed very well,” said Carver about the need to remove the crosswalk earlier in the year.
Despite signs that have been erected on both sides of the road saying “crosswalk closed”, people still seem to be using the crossing.
“Council took the crosswalk away but it’s an obvious place to cross,” said Meryl.
She also mentioned that trees that line the west side of the road make it difficult for vehicles to see pedestrians waiting to cross.
