Source: Toronto Star
ONTARIO - Just seconds before a 48-year-old Toronto woman was struck and killed by a truck this morning, police say a bystander had tried to warn her of oncoming traffic.
Police did not release the victim's name, but the woman's employers have identified her as Yuet Ming Lau of North York.
Lau worked on the packing line at Tradition Fine Foods on Warden Ave., just steps from where she was hit. She was on her way to work at about 6 a.m. when she was hit by a truck on Warden Ave. near Cataraqui Cres. in Scarborough.
According to police, she had stepped off the southbound Warden bus moments earlier and was not at a crosswalk when she was hit.
A witness at the bus stop yelled out to warn Lau about the oncoming truck, police said, but she was wearing ear buds and didn't appear to hear him.
She was struck seconds later, and pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived.
Tradition Fine Foods president Peter Glowczemwski said at least one of the woman's co-workers witnessed the incident.
"We are most upset by this," he said. "One of our employees has seen everything and is not working right now."
Lau had been working at Traditions for just a few months after being placed there by Linix Solutions, an employment agency.
Salina Jiang, who works at Linix, said Lau had worked for the agency since 2007. Lau spoke Cantonese, Jiang said, and had a daughter in her 20s. She was unaware of whether Lau had any other family in the city.
The 50-year-old male driver was also treated by paramedics as he suffered from chest pains after the collision, Const. Hugh Smith said.
Smith said a combination of weather, lighting conditions and Lau's distraction from the ear buds likely contributed to the accident.
"It was a slightly foggy morning, it was dark, the roads were wet, she was also wearing darker clothing, and the ear buds," Smith said. "You want all of your senses aware in the morning traffic."
Source: CTV Toronto
Woman killed in pedestrian collision on Toronto's Warden Ave.
ONTARIO - Wet roads and rainy weather may have caused a fatal pedestrian collision in east-end Toronto Tuesday morning.
A female pedestrian was hit by a car on Warden Avenue, between St. Clair Avenue and Danforth Road at around 6:30 a.m.She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Toronto police are releasing few details about the victim but said she was crossing Warden when she was struck by a car.
The driver, who was the first person to call 9-1-1, suffered stress-related chest pains and was transported to a local hospital, according to police.
Warden will remain closed for the rest of the morning while authorities investigate the crash.
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7 comments:
I fail to understand how "Wet roads and rainy weather may have caused a fatal pedestrian collision in east-end Toronto". A driver caused the collision, not the roads or the weather.
It's called evasion and ignorance Saje. No one likes to think accountability has anything to do with driving.
Not even radio announcers who routinely talk about "accidents" on the drive to work/home at various locations.
It's collective ignorance. Welcome to the Island of Sanity blog.
It is very sad as to what has happened. A woman's life was lost.
We are quick to blame the driver of the vehicle. I am not trying to shift the blame. But according to the news and eye witness, the woman ran across the road at the last minute and did not hear or see the vehicle approaching.
With that information, how could we automatically point fingers? Isn't is bad enough that the driver must live with this for all their days.
At any time all of us will find ourselves in traffic and not always
as a driver but as a pedestrian and thousands of us willingly, regardless of age, will take risks.
We've all seen them - the jaywalkers. Maybe you're one yourself?
As drivers, there's nothing more heart-stopping than encountering a
person in your path with little room for evasive action and with little warning.
What many people who impulsively run or step out into traffic or walk against red lights don't realize is the position they are putting drivers in.
No driver deserves to feel like the driver of this pickup truck does right now, especially when he was
doing everything right.
Yes, we have a moral responsibility as drivers to actively look for and protect pedestrians but sometimes, they don't give us a chance.
No few seconds of time saved by running or walking out into live traffic is worth what's left behind.
Hello I am not giving my name, but my uncle was the one driving his van. I thank everyone who is supporting him in this hard time. He is taking this really hard, we are all supporting him right now and telling him there was nothing he could have done any different. I look back now and think how many time’s I jaywalked or rushed to go across the street or parents who jaywalk with there kids. Our life’s are to important to rush in order to get us 1min early to our destination. Our heart goes out to the family and we will pray for them.
Thank you so much for writing and telling us how your uncle is doing.
This is such an awful time for everyone involved, your family and the victim's family but hopefully the story gives others pause, like how it gave you pause to the risks of walking out into live traffic or not being fully aware of one's surroundings.
I should mention that people can be hit on a green light - with having the right away as well, never assume that all drivers are paying attention.
It's a two way street really.
Drivers and pedestrians really need to exercise due care and attention at all times.
I hope I don't come off as bitter or callous. But I need to get this off my chest. I do feel bad for the driver; I know he must be having a hard time. Yes, he does have to live with this for the rest of his life, but his family and friends did not lose him. It's very difficult to recover, or not possible to recover at all after losing a loved one. But you never, never, never recover from losing members of your immediate family. This is the pain that her daughter will live with for the rest of her life (if we're going to be talking about having to live with something for the rest of one's life).
I have known Yuet Ming Lau since the day I was born. She was my mother's best friend for over 30 years--they were sisters. Our families are very close. Her daughter is 23, and for the last 20 years or so, it has always been the two of them--through thick and thin. The husband left when Jane* was just a toddler. For the past year and a half, her niece, Anna* lived with Yuet Ming and Jane*. Anna* is my best friend, she is devastated. We all are. Yuet Ming has 8 brothers and sisters, and her parents are still alive, and they don't know of this news yet. One of Yuet Ming's sisters decided not to tell them just yet because they both have heart conditions.
Thank you Saje--I don't understand either.
I believe the funeral is being held on Monday December 7th in Hong Kong. I hope for everyone who knows of this tragic accident will think of Yuet Ming and her family and your own family and friends that day, and know how blessed you are to still have them. Also the next time you're driving, please be careful. I have a few close friends who have been injured severely due to careless drivers. Health and safety should be top priority in any given situation.
*Not real name (obviously).
I don't wish to reveal my identity on this blog, but if for some reason someone wants to discuss this, please leave your email address or let me know how I can contact you in this thread and I will contact you.
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