A quiet residential street in Saint-Lazare has become the center of a road safety crisis after two separate pedestrian accidents occurred within just 72 hours, leaving residents alarmed and demanding immediate action from local authorities.
Back-to-Back Incidents Spark Community Outrage
The latest incident occurred on Monday evening when a 49-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle while walking on Rue Bédard. Emergency services rushed to the scene around 6:30 PM, transporting the victim to hospital with what police described as non-life-threatening injuries.
What makes this accident particularly concerning is that it marks the second time in three days that a pedestrian has been hit on the exact same road. Just last Friday evening, another woman was struck in a nearly identical incident, raising serious questions about the safety of this residential corridor.
A Pattern of Danger Emerges
Local residents are now speaking out about what they describe as long-standing safety issues on Rue Bédard. The street, which serves as a connector between major routes in the Montreal West community, has seen increasing traffic volumes without corresponding safety improvements.
"This is exactly what we've been warning about," one area resident told CTV News. "We've seen near-misses for months, and now we have two people actually hit in three days. How many warnings do we need before something changes?"
Police Investigation Underway
The Sûreté du Québec has confirmed that both incidents remain under investigation. While neither driver involved faces immediate charges, authorities are examining whether road design, visibility issues, or speeding contributed to the back-to-back accidents.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Camille Savoie emphasized that "all factors are being considered in our investigation, including road conditions, driver behavior, and pedestrian infrastructure."
Community Demands Immediate Action
The consecutive accidents have ignited calls for immediate safety measures, including:
- Enhanced pedestrian crosswalks
- Reduced speed limits with better enforcement
- Improved street lighting
- Traffic calming measures like speed bumps
- Better signage alerting drivers to pedestrian presence
Local officials have acknowledged the concerns and promised to review the situation, but residents say urgent action is needed before more serious injuries occur.
As the investigation continues, the Saint-Lazare community remains on edge, hoping these two incidents will finally trigger the safety improvements they've been requesting for years.
