Community concerned with lack of safety at Elbow Drive S.W. crossing

Meadowlark Park residents say a fatal crash involving a pedestrian on Wednesday night was just the latest incident at a very dangerous crossing.

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At 7 p.m., a pedestrian, a man in his 50s, was walking west across Elbow Drive near the intersection of 61 Avenue S.W. in a marked crosswalk.

Police say he was hit by a southbound Ford Escape.

The driver, a woman in her 80s, stopped to help the pedestrian, but he was hit a second time by a southbound Pontiac Vibe, driven by a woman in her 70s.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both of the drivers were uninjured.

Residents who live in the area have long voiced safety concerns about the crosswalk.

"The residents of Meadowlark Park have been worried about this intersection for years," said Amanda Lovig Hagg, a member of the Meadowlark Park Community Association.

"I've lived here almost 20 years and it's a hot topic. A lot of our kids cross (Elbow Drive) here to get to their yellow school buses or the No. 3 bus line."

Hagg says residents in the community she's spoken with have commented that it's not a matter of if a pedestrian would ever be hit while using the crosswalk, but when.

Abel Padron, a project manager at the nearby First Assembly Church, says they've been asking the city to do something about the crosswalk for years. 

He says he has applied for pedestrian-activated lights to be installed at the crosswalks three times, but each time the city turned down the request.

Padron shared an email he received from Ward 11 Coun. Kourtney Penner's office with CTV News.

"This crosswalk on Elbow Drive has been brought to Councillor Penner’s attention previously by nearby residents, and we appreciate you taking a moment to do so as well on behalf of First Assembly and the neighbouring community members," reads the email, dated Feb. 9, 2024.

"While we recognize some of the challenges associated with this crossing (both the length of the crossing and the speed/volume of traffic), at this time, this crosswalk does not meet the current threshold for an upgrade and thus is not recommended at this time. However, we are continuing to work with city administration to help prioritize crosswalks for future upgrades in the ward and are keeping an eye on this one for future opportunities."

Speaking to CTV News, Penner expressed her condolences for the family of the victim, and said that her office will work with the city's mobility department to look for solutions to prevent something like this from happening again.

"Last night, we had a fatality here, a person died," Padron said. "We are really worried that this is going to repeat."

Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward of the Calgary Police Service traffic section says their hearts go out to the families and witnesses impacted by the accident.

"As is standard with serious-injury and fatal collisions, support services are available to those who may need assistance in coping with life-altering circumstances," he said.

"We are grateful to those who stopped to help and offer assistance and encourage motorists and pedestrians to exercise safety at all times."

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at 403-266-1234.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

- With files from Mark Villani, CTV News