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By Ashley Legassic

MCGILL ROAD

Kamloops woman fighting for changes along McGill Road after fatal pedestrian crash

Nov 24, 2019 | 9:43 AM

KAMLOOPS — A frequent McGill Road user is calling for pedestrian improvements on the busy corridor after a TRU staffer was struck and killed by a vehicle earlier this month.

Heather MacCollum says the road is in need of slower speeds and flashing pedestrian crosswalks.

“This is a street that’s used by [TRU students] to get to a lot of food places, to get to home, to get to where they’re staying and accommodations,” MacCollum says. “So… we do feel that we need to show the university students that our community does care about their safety, especially with the last five students and staff member who have passed away.”

Earlier this month, three TRU students died in a crash downtown, and another student died on a crash on the Coquihalla. On Nov. 15, a TRU employee was killed while she was walking in a marked crosswalk.

MacCollum says with more businesses and residences opening up in the area, foot traffic is increasing.

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She also has a child who attends Insight Support Services, located just across from the university.

“Insight Support Services is a school for disabled and special needs children. It is an SD73 school. And I don’t think there’s a school in Kamloops that doesn’t have a school zone except for this one,” MacCollum says. “When you’re driving down McGill west, there is a bit of a hill. When you drive over that hill, you’re in a bit of a blind spot to everybody else who’s flying on that hill. If you ever go sit and watch, the speeds are definitely up and beyond speed limits.”

MacCollum has launched a Change.org petition, calling for reduced speeds, adding a school zone, increasing signage, and safer crosswalks.

“I’ve noticed a lot of people in the community are like, ‘Pedestrians should have their heads up,’ but the law is that pedestrians have the right of way. So we, as drivers, definitely need to take more responsibility for our speeds and also watching for people who are crossing the roads.”