Kitchener residents call for increased safety measures following fatal Huron Road crash

One Kitchener neighbourhood is fed up speeders, especially after a recent fatality. CTV’s Karis Mapp reports.

A fatal crash in a Kitchener neighbourhood is prompting area residents to call for stronger safety measures.

A 19-year old woman was killed in a motorcycle crash Wednesday evening along Huron Road, near Saddlebrook Court.

A pile of bouquets now mark the spot where the woman died.

People who live in the area recall Wednesday’s crash and said it’s a sight they can’t forget.

“The street was blocked off. There were motorcycles on the side of the road and somebody was giving chest compressions to the person lying in the grass,” said Chris Ellerbrun, who stopped by the area to pay respect by laying more flowers.

“She was young and it affected everyone in the community,” he said.

A familiar scene

Community residents are no strangers to serious crashes in the area.

Five years ago, almost to the exact date, another fatal collision happened along the same stretch of road.

“Five years ago, there were only like two houses in this area,” said nearby resident Goran Petrovic. “Now that it’s fully developed, there are so many people living here and many people use these walking paths.”

Two years ago, another crash resulted in a car ending up behind Hishyar Abuzeyit’s backyard.

“I’m not sure what the factors were, whether it’s the speed or not, but [it was] 50ft from where my kids were playing,” he said.

The speed limit in the area is 60km/hr, but residents claim they often see vehicles traveling much faster.

“It’s a straight away. You can basically run from here all the way down to Huron and you don’t have to stop,” explained Ellerbrun.

People living in the area say they would like to see safety measures installed such as speed cameras or crosswalks with flashing lights.

“This area here specifically, we want to bring attention to it because there are three schools close by,” Abuzeyit said.

City response

In an emailed statement to CTV news, the City of Kitchener provided the following statement:

“The City of Kitchener extends our heartfelt condolences to those impacted by this tragic loss. While we wait to learn what led to the collision, City staff have begun a review of the area. We are committed to supporting community safety where opportunities for improvement are identified.”