(Photo credit: Lawrence Rayner/Flickr)
Additional safety measures were implemented at a busy Leaside intersection a few months after the fatal accident of a seven-year-old.
Georgia Walsh, the daughter of Conservative Party president John Walsh, was struck by a turning minivan in mid-July. Unfortunately, she suffered severe head trauma and was later pronounced dead after she was taken to the hospital.
The driver remained at the scene of the crash and was devastated by the collision, police told the Toronto Star. Since then, the 50-year-old driver has been charged with careless driving and failing to stop at a red light. He appeared in court in early September.
Within a few days of the incident, more than $100,000 was raised for the SickKids Foundation in honour of Georgia. The money was put towards the Possibilities Fund, which is put towards any urgent funding needs. A memorial has also been set up in her name at the site.
Since the incident, city councillors and staff have looked into what can be done to make the intersection safer. One idea that’s been put forth is forbidding right turns on red lights and signs were recently posted detailing this change.
Other suggested ideas include studying speed limits, putting up additional signs warning drivers to watch out for children and looking at ways to make child pick-ups from school safer.
But residents continue to fear that drivers still aren’t getting the message.
“The cars don’t stop,” concerned citizen Lisa Campbell told CityNews. It’s one [car] in every 10 cars that stops. They just…roll right through.”
“There’s an elementary school here, children play here, there [is] a camp all summer, there’s no excuse for driving fast,” one frustrated resident told CityNews.
The safety of controlling traffic within the area was an election issue for city councillors in the ward.
There are a number of reasons that could lead to a pedestrian-vehicle accident including speed, fatigue, distracted driving or impaired driving. Both drivers and pedestrians need to be aware while driving or before crossing the road and if you are involved in a collision, it’s important that you remain at the scene. With the recent change to daylight savings time, there’s also a greater risk for pedestrian-vehicle accidents and fatalities.
Accident benefits are available to anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident regardless of their role in the accident. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been dealing with all accident related issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a car accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.
Greg Neinstein
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