Transportation

83-Year-Old Pedestrian Struck at Upper Gage and Mohawk

By Ryan McGreal
Published May 16, 2013

Hamilton Police were called to a collision at Upper Gage Avenue and Mohawk Road East yesterday just after 5:00 PM.

According to a police report, the motorist was in the southbound curb lane on Upper Gage waiting to turn right (westbound) onto Mohawk. She was looking left for vehicles and drove into a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, an 83-year-old woman whose name has been withheld at the request of her family, was knocked over and struck her head. She is in hospital with serious injuries. Police have ruled out alcohol and speeding, but are still investigating.

Witnesses are asked to contact detective-constable Matt Hewko of the Collision Reconstruction Unit at (905) 546-4755.

The corner of Upper Gage and Mohawk is very pedestrian-unfriendly, with heavy vehicular traffic, long pedestrian crossings across 4-5 lanes and off-street surface parking lots in front of adjacent buildings.

Last year, the Ontario Coroner released a report on pedestrian deaths that observed senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to injury due to inadequate pedestrian infrastructure.

The Coroner recommended a complete streets policy to make walking safer, including reduced vehicle speed limits, more crosswalks and mid-block crossings, bumpouts to make pedestrian crossings shorter, traffic calming measures to slow vehicle speeds and leading pedestrian signal intervals.

Ryan McGreal, the editor of Raise the Hammer, lives in Hamilton with his family and works as a programmer, writer and consultant. Ryan volunteers with Hamilton Light Rail, a citizen group dedicated to bringing light rail transit to Hamilton. Ryan wrote a city affairs column in Hamilton Magazine, and several of his articles have been published in the Hamilton Spectator. His articles have also been published in The Walrus, HuffPost and Behind the Numbers. He maintains a personal website, has been known to share passing thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, and posts the occasional cat photo on Instagram.

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By dirtyWater (anonymous) | Posted May 16, 2013 at 15:24:08

Waste no time in mourning. Organize.

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By z jones (registered) | Posted May 16, 2013 at 15:43:11 in reply to Comment 88777

The woman is hurt but alive. Anyway, can't we do both?

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By dirtyWater (anonymous) | Posted May 16, 2013 at 15:47:31

Ah, good. Yeah, you can do both. Some tactical urbanism applied to that intersection tonight would leave the city in the defensive.

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By SCRAP (anonymous) | Posted May 17, 2013 at 23:02:40

The driver is at fault and the excuse of I was looking at the cars is alme and iinexcusable. Guerilla tactics are necessary, time to start occupying the streets.

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By LOL all over again (anonymous) | Posted May 19, 2013 at 00:23:30

The coroner also recommends compulsory bicycle helmets but yet that doesn't get mentioned, ever. Pick and choose the facts that put your pet projects in a good light. When they align with your goals trumpet the hell out of them, when they oppose your desires ignore them or lie about them. Truth and honesty are always the first casualties.

Let the downvoting begin.

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By 700ftSteve (anonymous) | Posted May 29, 2013 at 06:15:52

Since this accident, they have removed the southbound advanced green on Upper Gage at Mohawk. Northbound still has an advanced green.

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