Shaken Kamloops driver raising awareness after near miss with homeless person
A Kamloops driver was rear-ended after slamming on her brakes when the truck in front of her stopped suddenly to avoid hitting a homeless person who walked unexpectedly into traffic.
The incident took place where Lansdowne Street turns into Victoria Street West at around 1 p.m., Monday, May 9.
The Victoria Street West Corridor is an undivided, four-lane arterial road between the Overlanders Bridge on-ramp and the Seymour Street West intersection. The area is a hub for the homeless population who access resources at The Mustard Seed, Rosethorn Housing and the Emerald Centre which are clustered one side of the busy traffic corridors. A day space providing food and other supports is on the other side, resulting in constant pedestrian crossings throughout the day.
Tracey Jobbagy thinks the area is unsafe and that something should be done to fix the situation before someone gets killed.
“This woman appeared to be under the influence and didn’t look right or left,” she said. “She wasn’t at a crosswalk. She walked right in front of the truck in front of me and stopped in the middle of the lane. The truck slammed on his brakes just in time, I slammed on mine and the driver behind me smacked into me.”
READ MORE: Supportive housing, complex care priority for Kamloops: B.C. housing minister
Jobbagy said the driver of the truck continued on and the incident left her feeling shocked and anxious. The driver behind her burst into tears.
The speed limit on the corridors is 50 km/h and Jobbagy said the vehicles involved were not speeding. She drives every day, transporting clients for work.
“I am always very cautious about drug users spilling out into the road on both sides of the shore,” she said. “They will stumble off of curbs.”
The damage to the vehicles was minor and both drivers involved in the fender bender are working together as they deal with costs and ICBC processes.
“My vehicle is part of my employment contract and the damages are such that if they write it off I am screwed,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what care I have taken and I’ll be left having to buy a vehicle for work.”
The day space, called The Gathering Place, is for people experiencing homelessness and is located outside a city owned storage facility at 48 Victoria Street West.
It provides a culturally safe space and access to information and other supports seven days per week between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. until October 31.
Jobbagy is using her story to raise awareness of the dangers to both pedestrians and drivers in the area with hope changes will be made before a more serious incident occurs.
Residents in Lower Sahali recently reported their concerns over Merit Place, a homeless shelter located on a busy street, beside a busy intersection and close to an off ramp onto the Trans-Canada Highway.
“It is scary to witness seeing these homeless under the influence and stumbling off the curbs into traffic,” said Notre Dame Tire owner Mark Wright. “It is only a matter of time before someone gets killed.”
READ MORE: Kamloops homeless shelter near busy roads causing safety concerns
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