Police are investigating a hit and run incident where a senior in a wheelchair was hit by a car before fleeing the scene.
The incident occurred in the early afternoon on September 5 at the crosswalk located at Wesbrook Mall and Berton Ave. in Wesbrook Village.
The victim, Greg McKinstry, 77, was crossing the street and returning to his home at Tapestry Retirement Residence when a car struck him, knocking him off his wheelchair onto the ground, said Tapestry general manager Ross Black.
The driver of the vehicle then fled the scene in what police are describing as a hit and run incident.
Amazingly, McKinstry didn’t sustain any major injuries, apart from some bruises and scratches.
“It’s pretty miraculous,” said Black. “We’re very grateful he was okay and not injured, it could have been much worse.”
The fire department arrived shortly after and attended to McKinstry, whose wheelchair was destroyed in the collision. Paramedics arrived shortly after and brought him to hospital for observation.
A spokesperson with the UBC detachment of the RCMP said they have opened an investigation and are searching for a suspect and information about the vehicle involved in the incident.
Due to the ongoing investigation, police said they could not release any additional details.
The incident was brought up during September’s board of director’s meeting by Joan Hebb, a campus resident who requested time to make a presentation to directors over a number of concerns, including traffic safety in Wesbrook Place.
Hebb, who lives in Tapestry Retirement Residence, told directors she is often witnessing drivers moving through the neighbourhood well past the speed limit of 30 km/hour. “Wesbrook Mall has, in my view, become a freeway,” she said.
“No one goes 30, and I go 30 … and people line up behind me and they honk. And I stay out there because I am darned annoyed that these people are not paying any attention.”
“Many of them don’t even stop, they cruise into the crosswalks … they don’t stop. Even if there is someone waiting to cross.”
To deal with the situation, Hebb suggested the introduction of more traffic lights in Wesbrook.
The incident follows at least two other pedestrian strikes in Wesbrook Place in the past 12 months.
In June, a senior and resident of Tapestry sustained injuries after being hit by a seven-year-old on a non-motorized scooter.
And in October 2023, Lena Bellamy, 87, also a Tapestry resident, was struck by a 10-year-old who was also riding on a non-motorized scooter. The child and family members fled the scene and did not attend to Bellamy, police said at the time.
As a result of the collision, Bellamy was taken by ambulance to Vancouver General Hospital and treated for a fractured kneecap and a head injury.
Following the incident, Bellamy and family addressed UNA board directors to voice their concerns about pedestrian safety in Wesbrook Place.
EMMANUEL SAMOGLOU IS THE MANAGING EDITOR OF THE CAMPUS RESIDENT.