Safety upgrades to be implemented after Penticton, B.C. child hit in crosswalk

The City of Penticton will now install a four-way stop at the intersection of Duncan Avenue East and Columbia Street.

The City of Penticton, B.C., will be adding safety measures to an intersection after a child was hit by a car while crossing last week.

On Monday, June 12, a 14-year-old girl was on the way to school and was nearly halfway across the crosswalk at the intersection of Duncan Avenue East and Columbia Street, when a vehicle driving up Duncan struck the child and sent her flying over the hood.

“Terrible. She was able to tell someone waiting, a different driver, our home number and he said your daughter’s been hit at the intersection need to come right away,” said the victim’s mom Nicole.

Global News is not using Nicole’s last name to protect the identity of her daughter.

“There’s a video from the corner store showing her stop near the crosswalk, look, wait for the bus to pass through, look again and push her scooter through the crosswalk.”

The intersection, Nicole says, has become increasingly dangerous, given an influx of new homes and development further up the hill.

She went on to say that many families have also expressed concerns over increased traffic in the area and speeding. And with Columbia Elementary School nearby, many students use the crosswalk every day.

“It has been a problem for many, many, many, many years,” said Nicole. “It’s so frustrating that it takes a tragedy for anything to be done about a school intersection.”