West Kildonan Industrial residents call for speed bumps after child hit by truck

Residents in the West Kildonan Industrial neighbourhood are calling on the city to install speed bumps in their area after a child was hit and dragged by a vehicle Thursday.

Katelyn Bemister lives near the area where the child — who was hospitalized as a result of the incident and has been upgraded to stable condition — was struck. She says people frequently speed in the area.

“They’re going really fast, and they’re not really paying attention at all to the pedestrians in the area,” says Bemister.

In video supplied to the Free Press by a resident, the child can be seen riding a bike down a sidewalk along the 500 block of North Point Boulevard.

As the child crosses a back alley that intersects with the street, a truck hits them and drags them several feet.

The truck stops briefly, but as bystanders approach it, the driver speeds off with its squealing tires captured in the video.

North Point Boulevard, which was crawling with kids Friday, is close to a park and playground. Bemister, who is also a parent, says adding speed bumps would make her feel safer.

Area resident Ailea Kathleen Palomar also says speeding is an issue in the neighbourhood, but noted the combination of tall fences and uncontrolled intersections are creating risks for pedestrians and motorists.

“It’s not safe because you can’t see,” said Palomar.

Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) said the city has been installing traffic-calming measures in the area and additional changes are coming.

Sharma says the speed limit on Murray Avenue has already been reduced to 60 km/h from 70 km/h and a four-way stop sign at Mira Gate is now in place. A stop sign on Ferrier Street and Murray Avenue has recently been added.

Other changes, like speed bumps and the implementation of additional stop signs are “on the table,” says Sharma, while a traffic-calming review is underway for North Point Boulevard between Lyra Gate and Mira Gate.

“It’s a horrible incident that unfolded this week and when there’s issues that emerge around road safety, we need to find solutions.”

Winnipeg police arrested a 29-year-old man in connection to the hit-and-run. He is facing charges of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm and failure to stop at the scene of an accident.

He was released on an appearance notice with a court date.

morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca