A Central Saanich man was charged with failing to yield after the Ford Windstar he was driving collided with an elderly woman riding a mobility scooter on Stelly’s at Brentview Drive.
According to Central Saanich police, the crash took place at 4:38 p.m. when the van sideswiped Patricia Paul with the driver claiming his vision was obscured due to the bright sunlight streaming through his windshield.
Paul was taken to hospital to be checked for injuries and released but her mobility scooter was destroyed, leaving her unable to leave her home without help.
The collision highlights an on-going issue regarding the need for a sidewalk along Stelly’s; an issue that has been debated for a number of years.
“We’ve had a couple of meetings about where and how a sidewalk would be placed and I believe there is an agreement to move forward but we are working with the Tsartlip First Nation and are waiting for them to come back to us with information on some elements of the project,” said Central Saanich councillor Alicia Holman.
“My understanding is we’ve made pretty good progress, but these things do take time,” she said, adding that staff have been asked to keep an eye out for funding options for the project.
But taking time may lead to an eventual tragedy, according to Tsartlip band member Erma Smith.
“My daughter and I were walking along that same stretch last year and were nearly run over by the same person, at least from the sounds of it it was the same person,” said Smith.
“It’s just a matter of time before someone gets killed there. They really need to do something.”
Paul, the latest victim of the poor road configuration along the Stelly’s agrees.
“Oh my God, Stelly’s is in dear need of a sidewalk and some lights. There is no safe place for anyone walking or riding a bike or even scooters. And in the evening, it’s even more dangerous,” said Paul, adding that speeding is also an issue.
“The speed limit is posted at 40km per hour but the average speed coming down that hill is more like 60 to 70 km per hour. I’ve been on the Tsartlip council for almost 10 years and this has been on our table the whole time,” said Joni Olsen, a council member of the Tsartlip First Nation.
She said the council has applied to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada for infrastructure funding for the past nine years but have been told the project is has a low priority.
“We’re trying now to work with Central Saanich to partner on the project abut can’t get past that point as our requests keep getting denied,” said Olsen.
