Saanich Police are turning to the public for help after a hit and run sent a pedestrian to hospital on Monday night.
The incident took place at approximately 7:45 p.m. on January 10 at the intersection of McKenzie Avenue and Burnside Road West, according to Saanich Police.
A pedestrian was crossing Burnside Road West on the north side of the road when a vehicle, turning right onto McKenzie Avenue, struck the 60-year-old man.
The vehicle did not stop and continued eastbound on McKenzie Avenue, says police.
The pedestrian was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses told police that the vehicle was a dark car, possibly a Chevrolet Cobalt, with no tinting on the windows. Witnesses also added that it had a loud exhaust.
Investigators continue this morning to follow up on potential CCTV from homes nearby and are asking for motorists that may have been driving in the area to check their dashcam footage for footage of the incident or of the suspect vehicle before or after the collision.
“The driver would have been more than aware that they struck this man. We are urging the driver to do the right thing and come forward to the police. Officers have several investigative avenues to continue to explore, and they are confident that it will only be a matter of time before we can identify the driver,” reads a statement from Const. Markus Anastasiades.
According to ICBC, on Vancouver Island an average of 310 pedestrians are injured after getting hit by a vehicle every year, while seven die as a result of their injuries annually.
On Monday night, Saanich council voted to speed up the plan to focus on pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
Councillor Zac de Vries said the district is moving towards a decision that will accelerate both its Active Transportation Plan, as well as towards Vision Zero.
“We need to be planning and having a road system that plans for human failure and ensures that human failure does not end in serious injury or death.”
In December, a driver struck 16-year-old Kaydence Bourque while he was walking in the middle of a marked crosswalk.
He died as a result of his injuries.
Advocate Philip Marciniak thinks Saanich is moving in the right direction.
“They decided to ask staff to reduce the timeline for the active transportation plan, from 30 years to 15 years. I think that’s an important improvement.”
Saanich Police say the driver involved in Monday’s hit and run is facing a number of criminal charges including leaving the scene of an accident.
Anyone with information can contact Saanich PD at 250-475-4321 and cite file number 22-00637.
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