Fatal Hit and Run in NW Calgary

[Regorium]

Police out there questioning people and such today.

I drive that intersection every single day (I live there), and unfortunately I pass there around 8. Wish I saw it so I could've done something.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

I agree with those who are saying there is probably a reasonable explanation for the cars that didn't stop. Stopping in the middle of the street with no warning could be a good start. My question is, who was there to determine that the two cars drove around her? Who exactly is this information coming from? Could they be lying?

I guess I just find it extremely unlikely that people would see someone lying in the street and say 'meh'.

There is a big parking lot right there where both school and city buses pick people up. Not sure about yesterday, but for a pretty quiet area that is a busy intersection in the mornings. Always lots of people around from about 6:30am onward.

[psyang]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

My question is, who was there to determine that the two cars drove around her? Who exactly is this information coming from? Could they be lying?

I guess I just find it extremely unlikely that people would see someone lying in the street and say 'meh'.

I remember there was snow that morning - possibly tracks swerving around the body...? Either way, such a sad story.

[ken0042]

Another serious question- how are the street lights in that area? Once again it doesn't excuse hitting a pedestrian; let alone running away after. However it could be a contributing factor.

I know the lights in Calgary aren't as bright as in other cities, and I know of a couple of lights on streets by my house that have been out of service for weeks or even months on end.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Nyah

I would like to think you're right, but that's not what it sounds like:

[/COLOR]

It's true media likes to blow things out of proportion, but this information is likely coming directly from CPS. From what it sounds like, they actually had to steer around her body to not hit her. Regardless of whether or not they knew it was a woman, if drivers see anything larger than a rodent on the road in the middle of the city it should cause them to take a second look. I would think everyone would...I certainly would! [/LEFT]

And where is CPS getting this info? From others who were stopped? Perhaps these people saw cars stopped and thought it was a breakdown or something else. There's an awful lot of people making completely unsubstantiated jumps to conclusions here.

[Nyah]

Originally Posted by ken0042

You stop and look at every ice pile on side streets this time of year? I know there are some on my street that are bigger than a person.

She was in the middle of the road (as shown in the photos). It's not hard to distinguish between a snow pile and a person, and yes - if I saw something on the road bigger than a rodent, in the city, I'd absolutely do a double take.

That being said, you raise a good point with the street lighting. It seems odd that she would be hit twice. Maybe they person who initially hit her really didn't see her?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Another serious question- how are the street lights in that area? Once again it doesn't excuse hitting a pedestrian; let alone running away after. However it could be a contributing factor.

I know the lights in Calgary aren't as bright as in other cities, and I know of a couple of lights on streets by my house that have been out of service for weeks or even months on end.

If it's the area that I think it is (by the large bus terminus), the lighting is pretty good. I don't think it would hurt if the city installed more of the pedestrian crossing lights though. I really wish there were more of those around the city, though I am sure the cost would be quite hefty to install in so many places.

I agree with the earlier sentiment -, if it's dark out and some large object is in front of my vehicle, I swerve around it. I don't necessarily assume it is a body. I have seen a lot of discarded garbage bags in some areas where they end up on the road. If you just come up on something quickly you don't really process it, especially if the person in front of your suddenly swerved around something. The way the story sounds is that two cars slowly drove around, did a looky-lou, and drove on like that incident in China with the toddler not long ago.

[Russic]

I'm not saying the report was wrong, but wasn't the last hit and run story like this refuted a couple days later? If I recall it was a guy who was hit over by Glenmore.

It can happen and it does, and I can see 1 person avoiding it, but 2 people back-to-back driving around a body? Something feels off.

[First Lady]

Saw this clip on the news last night.

http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/%E2%8...701/story.html

And this statement is stuck in my head....

She called the situation “horrible,” adding that she held the woman’s hand, just to let her know someone was there.

Reassuring her she wasn't alone as she died. So utterly sad.


In the video police say they won't condemn those who drove around as they may not know what had happened.

I agree with some earlier comments about lighting. I find even streets that have streets with lights can be dark in early hours when there is no moon or its cloudy.

Recently I've seen two pedestrians with good ideas that more should adopt. One had a safety vest; perhaps for work, nonetheless a good idea.
The other had a small light on her purse and she turned it on when she got to a corner to an uncontrolled crosswalk. Small, but brilliant - everyone could see her.

[mrgreen]

Even more disturbing: Police now say after she was hit the first time two other drivers actually drove around the body and didn't stop and help before the fourth vehicle ran her over again and then drove away. That's 4 different and totally separate drivers and nobody stopped. So sad.

[CaptainCrunch]

Tonja gives me back a little faith in people, that was a very compassionate act in a situation where a whole lot of humanity was shown.

[vektor]

You wanna know why this kind of #### happens? Stop watching so much tv, it destroys the mind and turns it into mush. Societies moral obligation to one another is gone because of the complete destruction of our sense of community and collectiveness. It's an individualistic world we live in, this doesn't surprise at all that this happened.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by vektor

You wanna know why this kind of #### happens? Stop watching tv, it destroys the mind and turns it into mush.

Ah yes, because the world pre-television was a much better place, nothing bad ever happened back then. Nothing at all, just rainbows and puppies

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by vektor

You wanna know why this kind of #### happens? Stop watching so much tv, it destroys the mind and turns it into mush. Societies moral obligation to one another is gone because of the complete destruction of our sense of community and collectiveness. It's an individualistic world we live in, this doesn't surprise at all that this happened.

What are you doing to change that? Meet and greets with the neighbours? Book clubs? Street BBQ?

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by vektor

You wanna know why this kind of #### happens? Stop watching so much tv, it destroys the mind and turns it into mush. Societies moral obligation to one another is gone because of the complete destruction of our sense of community and collectiveness. It's an individualistic world we live in, this doesn't surprise at all that this happened.

Your comments make no sense. Before TV and the internet you just never heard about most jerks in the world.

Mass media is the only reason you hear about all the bad stuff going on in the world today. Maybe you should just live in a bubble?

[renny]

Terrible news, i live in that area and heard about it yesterday. Condolences to the family of the deceased.

I think a lesson here for all pedestrians is to remember to look for cars. A 200lbs person is much easier to stop than a 3000lbs car. I no way am I saying it's the pedestrian's fault, but we as a society need to be more careful. Having right of way will not save your life if you get hit by a car.

One thought that came to mind, I remember a lot of better than thou people commenting youtube about the Chinese toddler that was struck a while back. Some very racist things were posted directed at Chinese people in general, followed by comments about how things like this wouldn't happen in their home country. Well, here we are, and we have the same problem with people driving around the woman's body and not sticking around.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by renny

Terrible news, i live in that area and heard about it yesterday. Condolences to the family of the deceased.

I think a lesson here for all pedestrians is to remember to look for cars. A 200lbs person is much easier to stop than a 3000lbs car. I no way am I saying it's the pedestrian's fault, but we as a society need to be more careful. Having right of way will not save your life if you get hit by a car.

One thought that came to mind, I remember a lot of better than thou people commenting youtube about the Chinese toddler that was struck a while back. Some very racist things were posted directed at Chinese people in general, followed by comments about how things like this wouldn't happen in their home country. Well, here we are, and we have the same problem with people driving around the woman's body and not sticking around.

My money is still on the people had no idea it was a body. I've driven past garbage, debris, snow, ice, etc. a million times on the road and not taken a second look.

[t0rrent98]

The one thing that puzzles me is, how would this have happened? The lady must have been in a rush to catch the bus to head to work. She probably ran across the street not looking both ways than the next thing you know she was hit by 2 cars.

What else kind of explanation is there to this? Still, it's pretty sad it was a hit and run and that other cars have driven around it. I worked the evening shift that night, but I normally head the opposite direction.

[CarlW]

Originally Posted by Sliver

My money is still on the people had no idea it was a body. I've driven past garbage, debris, snow, ice, etc. a million times on the road and not taken a second look.

I don't buy this, it's a human body not a garbage bag, or debris. I think it'd be pretty distinguishable from other stuff. I drive by stuff on the road all the time also and I don't buy this argument at all unless it was night time and they were dressed all in black.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by t0rrent98

The one thing that puzzles me is, how would this have happened? The lady must have been in a rush to catch the bus to head to work. She probably ran across the street not looking both ways than the next thing you know she was hit by 2 cars.

What else kind of explanation is there to this? Still, it's pretty sad it was a hit and run and that other cars have driven around it. I worked the evening shift that night, but I normally head the opposite direction.

- driver was speeding
- driver was texting
- driver still drunk from night before

There are many possible explanations.

Likely same could apply to second driver as well. Who runs over something, drags it 50 meters and doesn't get out to check?