The site of a deadly crash east of Calgary on Sunday has been a problem intersection for years, according to residents. Steve Brundige grew up near the intersection of highways 9 and 564 in Rocky View County. Three of the four corners of the intersection have crosses marking the deaths of people in traffic collisions. “There are at least 10 people that have died at this intersection,” said Brundige. Through a Freedom of Information request, he found out there have been three dozen crashes at the intersection since 2015. “This is the most direct link to the city now,” he said. “When I was a kid, I used to ride my bike on this road. And then, you could. It was no problem. But now, the traffic is so heavy on this road.” On Sunday, the intersection once again became the site of a fatal crash. An SUV and pickup truck pulling a trailer collided around 10:39 a.m., killing a 33-year-old woman and a 63-year-old woman in the SUV. Both women are from Calgary. A man from that vehicle was also taken to hospital, along with a child, airlifted by STARS. Both are listed in critical condition. The driver of the truck also was taken to hospital with serious injuries. “The way the lanes are laid out here, I think it’s confusing people,” said Brundige. “The right lane is straight through, right turn, and I think people sitting at the stop sign think the people in the right lane are going to turn.” The province has pushed through on design work for a traffic circle at the intersection. “Everything I’ve heard, it was an individual that unfortunately went through a stop sign,” said Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen. “So, all accidents are preventable, but we want to make sure that we design a road network that can make intersections as safe as possible. That roundabout design work is nearing completion. We’ll make sure we have construction on that as soon as possible.” Brundige wants to see further temporary measures put in before another crash takes place. “Lower the speed limit, put in a four-way and have more enforcement,” Brundige said. “There’s plenty of enforcement down the road in the 70 zone; I don’t understand why they couldn’t enforce the stop sign.” RCMP say officers continue to investigate the collision.
