Police alerted after traffic flagger says driver intentionally tried running her over in Esquimalt

CHEK

WATCH: Esquimalt flagger speaks out after an aggressive driver allegedly tried to strike her Friday. Isabelle Raghem reports. 

When a 21-year-old Esquimalt resident began her job as a roadside flagger three months ago, she never thought her life could be in danger. But that changed when an allegedly angry driver nearly hit her Friday along Dunsmuir Road.

“He just gunned it towards me and I had to jump off the road and he ripped by me and pass the crew,” the female flagger said Sunday.

Shaken and fearful of the driver, she’s asked Chek News to refrain from using her name. She said Sunday she is confident the driver intentionally drove towards her.

“He was staring at me, shaking his head and was staring into my soul. It was probably one of the scariest things that’s happened to me,” the flagger said.

According to WorkSafe BC, 244 workers were hit by a motor vehicle while working on or beside the road from 2007 to 2016. Of that number, 122 or more than half, were flaggers.

READ MORE: Flagger struck by vehicle on Sooke Road in Langford sent to hospital

The 21-year-old remains shaken up two days after the incident but said she feels lucky to have walked without any injuries.

“I’m thankful for the adrenaline hit because if I hadn’t gotten out of the way, he would have gone right through me. It’s pretty scary”

She wanted to share her story so drivers could hear her message. “I just want people to stay safe on the roads and know we’re people too. We deserve respect on the road.”

Thanks to witnesses, a license plate has been reported to Victoria police in hopes of catching and ticketing the driver.

The Ministry of Transportation asks drivers to slow down around construction zones and says in 2015 the Motor Vehicle Act was amended to expand the Slow Down Move Over regulations to include maintenance workers and others. Click here for more on the amended act and the penalties.

Isabelle RaghemIsabelle Raghem

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