A six year old boy was resting in stable condition at the Children’s Hospital after being hit by a truck on Westmere Drive just west of the Paradise Road turn off on Sunday, June 9 around 4 pm. The middle aged male driver of the truck was reported to be driving at or below the posted speed limit of 40 km/p/h.
Neighbor Vijay Joshi was getting ready to go for a walk with his family when his 12 year old son came running in to tell him a little boy had been hit on the road and to call 911. Joshi’s son who was skateboarding at the time saw the boy playing on the sidewalk with a ball when it got away from him and rolled onto the street. The young boy darted out from between parked cars and collided with a truck coming down the drive. The younger Joshi said the boy initially looked left and right and stopped for one vehicle, but then panicked and darted out in front of the second one when it wasn’t safe.
The boy was conscious but visibly in pain and had vomited on the street from the impact. EMS, Chestermere Fire Department and Chestermere RCMP were quickly on the scene and EMS transported the boy to hospital who was in serious but stable condition.
The residents of Westmere Drive have had ongoing concerns with traffic on their street and while talking to Scot Reach, it was apparent that the steady traffic going by included many who were speeding. Reach who was home at the time of the accident said that he is frustrated that nothing is being done to catch speeders and someone getting hurt was inevitable.
“People don’t do the forty. ” With the amount of kids in the area, a play ground up the street and the schools nearby he feels something should be done. He has tried to report license plate numbers but police can only issue a warning and not ticket the offenders.
Joshi said that he has ongoing concerns and that morning and afternoon rush hours are especially bad. “People are speeding through the playground zone and not stopping at the 3 way stop. I don’t let my kids play basketball outside.”
Reach believes that the closure of Paradise Road for westbound access and the upcoming opening of Rainbow Road will result in more traffic woes. As well he sees the increase in housing density down the street adding to number of speeders.
I had a chance to catch up with the injured boy’s grandfather whose family wishes to remain anonymous. He was visibly upset and became choked up with tears in his account of the previous day. The young boy from Airdrie had come to visit his grandparents and cousins and the family was all outside when the accident occurred.
He told me that his wife had just talked to her grandson at the hospital and he seemed happy and in good spirits. Fortunately he suffered only a minor concussion and had no broken bones. The young boys’ cousins were using the services at the Mental Health as they were there at the time of the accident.
Staff Sergeant Glenn Henry reminds residents of the potential for such unfortunate accidents and to ensure they educate their children about not playing on or near roadways. Motorists are also asked to maintain proper safe speeds and to remain alert in residential areas where children are likely to be playing.
