What a horrible feeling it must have been for the witnesses of an early-morning collision between a vehicle and a young boy in a school zone this week.
And we’re sure no one felt worse than the young woman who was behind the wheel when, according to police, the 10-year-old “darted across the crosswalk without any indication” and into the immediate path of her car.
Fortunately the driver wasn’t speeding or distracted or under the influence of alcohol. The relatively low-speed collision left the boy with a swollen ankle but no major injuries, thank goodness.
Still, the experience should leave a lasting impression on the boy. We imagine he will be sure to look more carefully and move more slowly the next time he decides to cross a busy street.
This story should also be a lesson to all drivers, especially drivers who have a tendency to overlook crosswalks.
And there are a lot of those in Castlegar, as any regular pedestrian in this city can attest to.
If you haven’t recently, try standing at one of the many marked crosswalks on Columbia Avenue and see how many cars zip through before one finally stops and yields to you, as they are supposed to.
Pedestrians, of course, have a duty, too. They must make their intentions to cross the street clear, which this boy apparently failed to do in his haste on Tuesday morning.
Fortunately, the car he darted in front of was being operated by a responsible driver who was obeying the school-zone speed laws. The collision could have easily ended up much worse.
Please, keep that in mind the next time you approach a crosswalk, whether on foot or behind the wheel.
— Castlegar News