Stretch of TMR street where pedestrians were hit can be dangerous, locals say

The intersection where a tow truck struck a local couple, both of them 84, as they crossed the street on Monday morning, killing the wife and leaving the husband in critical condition, is on a busy street that is dangerous for pedestrians, some locals say.

On Tuesday, police cadets handed out brochures in the area, where Clyde Road meets Dresden Avenue — a stretch of Jean-Talon Street West that bears a dual name as it passes through the sector. 

One day earlier, emergency vehicles swarmed the scene and investigators took photos of a tow truck belonging to Town of Mount Royal (TMR) that, moments earlier, had hit the elderly pair as they crossed the busy avenue.

The brochures from the cadets carried a warning written in bold text: "Cross without playing with your life," and, on the back; "Look at the time remaining. Cross only if you have time to reach the other sidewalk."

Pedestrian lights, the brochures warned, should be respected. When the flashing orange hand appears, cross only if you are already in the intersection, it stressed. 

But there may be a problem with the pedestrian light at the corner of Clyde Road and Dresden Avenue, according to Chris Makris, who lives on the street. He says drivers tend to go too fast and the pedestrian light is too short and may not give sufficient time to cross, especially for elderly pedestrians. 

The light gives 20 seconds to cross the four-lane street. 

"If you're in your 80s like they were, it takes a bit longer to walk, you know? So, I don't know, maybe it should be 50 seconds, a minute," he said. 

Maxime Rougerie, who was in the area on Tuesday to attend a boxing class, agreed.

"It's true that 20 seconds is not a lot," he said. "So if we could add maybe a bit more time it would be really good."

It is unclear if that played any role in the death and injury of the two pedestrians. 

Peter Malouf, the mayor of TMR, came to the area on Tuesday and, standing in front of the intersection as cars, trucks and buses passed, said he feels for both the family of the victims and for the municipal worker who struck them, whom he described as a "good" and "careful" employee.

The intersection is a busy one, he acknowledged, with heavy traffic heading through the area on Jean-Talon. 

But last year the city made it more pedestrian friendly, adding the pedestrian lights and crosswalks, he said.