Signage at intersection upgraded following death in 1997: ministry
Staff at the B.C. Transportation Ministry did indeed improve signage at a Penticton intersection that was the focus of a coroner’s recommendation following a fatality there nearly 20 years ago and which has recently returned to the spotlight.
Ivan Dunford, 70, was struck by a car on the evening of Dec. 24, 1997, as he tried to cross Eckhardt Avenue at Comox Street. He died the next day at Penticton Regional Hospital.
A coroner’s report into his death issued May 20, 1998, recommended the Transportation Ministry review the “appropriateness” of signage installed at the crosswalk to alert drivers to the possible presence of pedestrians, “especially with regard to the changes in the population density since the original signs were installed.”
The ministry said Friday it acted on the report in August 1998.
“The crosswalk sign previously located on the east side of the intersection was relocated to the west side of the intersection adjacent to the crosswalk.
“An additional sign was added to the back of each of the two existing signs so that signage identifying the crosswalk is visible on both sides of the Highway for each direction of travel,” the ministry said in a statement.
In addition, the ministry in late 2016 added “oversize pedestrian crossing signs at the pedestrian crossing location for both directions, as well as erecting advance warnings signs in each direction for drivers.”
The safety of the intersection has been called into question recently by Penticton resident Patsy Wisener, who is currently pressing the ministry to install pedestrian-activated lights to help people safely cross four lanes of traffic on what is considered part of Highway 97.
She lives in a condominium complex nearby and, after witnessing a series of close calls, believes it’s only a matter of time before someone else is killed, particularly with the pending spring opening of the nearby Cascades Casino Penticton and possible construction of a new hotel at the old Petro-Canada site that could make the area even busier.
The ministry said in a statement last week that no further changes are required at this time.
“Ministry staff conducted a review of the site and determined that due to the close proximity of the traffic signal at Westminster Avenue, and the relatively low number of pedestrians wanting to cross at this location, a pedestrian signal light at Comox Street and Eckhardt Avenue is not warranted,” it said.