Residents warned city of dangerous Vancouver crosswalk before driver struck woman and child

GRAPHIC WARNING: The following details may disturb some readers. 

After a woman and a child were struck by the driver of an SUV while crossing a street in Vancouver Tuesday afternoon, residents say the city has been warned about the dangers of the crosswalk.

CCTV video from a nearby business captured the collision around 12:30 p.m., showing that the driver of a grey SUV was turning eastbound on West 16th Avenue from Willow Street when they struck a woman pushing a stroller with a child inside.

After initially stopping, the driver then appears to strike the woman a second time, lurching forward into oncoming traffic.

The two victims were taken to the hospital in stable condition.

“The woman’s injuries appear serious. The child was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons,” Vancouver Police Department Sgt. Steve Addison told 1130 NewsRadio.

Breanna Vander Helm lives in the area and says the crosswalk at the intersection is poorly designed.

“There’s no flashing light or anything. It’s just the white painted lines and the little white sign that says that there’s a crosswalk. Parked cars are often on either side, so you kind of have to poke your way around them to be seen. And often cars don’t stop,” said Vander Helm.

She and other parents have reportedly complained to the City of Vancouver, concerned for the safety of people going to and from parks, daycares, and schools in the area.

But she says the city only responds with a form letter confirming her complaint has been received.

“And then I haven’t seen any changes to their crosswalk, and I risk my life daily at it with my kids. I try and take the long way, where there’s the pedestrian-controlled light, when I can, but that way is the fastest way for us,” she said.

“It’s just really sad to see that nothing was done about it before someone got hurt.”

In an update Wednesday, police say the driver has been identified, and no charges have been laid against them yet.

—With files from Anthony Atanasov and Jan Schuermann