Woman dies and man loses leg when car mounts sidewalk
BURLINGTON — A Burlington woman died and a 19-year-old man lost his leg when an SUV seen driving erratically on Fairview Street mounted the sidewalk and crashed into them.
“It was pretty scary,” said Sierra Kernick who lives in the neighbourhood and witnessed the aftermath of the accident just after 10 a.m. Saturday.
The Burlington teen was hit first and the impact amputated his leg below the knee, say Halton Regional Police.
He had been walking on the sidewalk near the former Chaps restaurant between Woodview
Road and Commerce Court, just west of Walker’s Line.
He was airlifted to Hamilton General Hospital and was in serious condition with his family by his side.
“We saw the helicopter circling
around,” said Kernick, who was on her way to get breakfast with her grandfather.
“There was a whole bunch of fire trucks and police cars at the scene. We saw eight or 10 paramedics with a guy on a stretcher.
“The helicopter landed in the parking lot across the street and they rushed him over and he was airlifted out ... It made you realize how serious it was having the helicopter there.”
The 58-year-old woman was standing in front of the former restaurant at 3419 Fairview St. when she was struck.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The heavily damaged Hyundai Santa Fe hit what remains of the former restaurant’s outdoor patio before coming to a stop partly on the sidewalk and half in the entrance to the parking lot.
Debris from the crash littered the road, sidewalk and parking lot entrance.
Police say the 73-year-old driver may have had a medical issue that contributed to the crash.
“We walked up beside Chaps — the old restaurant — and the glass was completely shattered and there was a shoe on the ground,” said Kernick, who is a 21-year-old University of Guelph student.
“It was pretty crazy.”
The Burlington man was taken by ambulance to Hamilton General Hospital with head injuries and is in stable condition.
Calls to 911 about the SUV driving eastbound on Fairview Street started coming in around 10:10 a.m., before the accident even occurred.
“Multiple people calling in an erratic driver, someone who is all over the roadway,” said Insp. Derek Davis.
“While police were en route, there was a collision.”
Davis says police don’t believe the driver purposely left the road and that it was “happenstance” the pedestrians were in the SUV’s path.
“All of #BurlON’s thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families affected by the tragic motor vehicle/pedestrian accident that occurred earlier today on Fairview,” tweeted Mayor Rick Goldring.
“Thanks to all our first responders for providing professional and caring service.”
No one in many of the nearby businesses saw or heard the crash, saying they only became aware of it when a helicopter arrived on the street.
“It really makes you aware anything can happen,” said Nicole Sellors, who works at Revolver Clothing/Twice the Fun at 3455 Fairview St.
She regularly walks right where the crash happened and says it’s not usually a dangerous or accident-prone area.
“You always hear about these things but you don’t realize you could be involved,” she said.
“I would never have expected it on such a quiet street.”
Anyone with information can call Det. Const. Oliver Caves or Det. Const. Thien Vu of the Traffic Reconstruction Unit at 905825-4747, ext. 5124, 5056, or 5065.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.