Andrea Fossum's cats Walnut, left, and Squeaks. Walnut was killed by a vehicle earlier this week.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED
May 14, 2022 - 4:33 PM
A Penticton woman who watched as her cat was killed after it was run over by a truck is hoping the tragedy will result in safer traffic throughout the city's residential neighbourhoods.
During the daylight hours of May 12, Andrea Fossum was walking with two of her three cats own Brunswick Street – a street with single family homes and seniors complexes. Her cats have enjoyed following her on walks since they were kittens and never got comfortable wearing leashes.
When a loud truck came roaring down the road, one of Fossum’s cats – Squeaks – got spooked and ran across the road.
Her other cat Walnut chased after Squeaks.
“Walnut unfortunately followed her and that was his demise,” as Walnut was struck by a vehicle and died a few minutes later.
READ MORE: Downtown Penticton speed limit no issue to anyone but city council
Fossum said Walnut was normally a calm cat that would keep to the sidewalk.
“I don’t know what changed that day, maybe a loud vehicle spooked him.”
She suspects some drivers use the residential street as a thoroughfare to avoid congestion in the main arteries.
“They were trying to bypass traffic, they on a mission, they were speeding, and the consequence was my cat,” she said.
“It was one of the most traumatizing things I have ever seen. It didn’t have to be that way.”
Fossum said she was frantically yelling in hopes of getting the driver to stop, but to no avail.
“I don’t think that driver cared. He didn’t try to swerve, didn’t stop afterwards.”
Walnut was raised by Fossum as a kitten and “he was so incredibly loved.”
To ensure Walnut’s death is not in vain, she has begun advocating for safer traffic. She hopes the city can install speed bumps, lower speed limits, or create some other traffic calming measures on Brunswick Street.
Beyond Brunswick Street, Fossum wants to see more speed bumps installed in Penticton’s residential neighbourhoods, so she has launched this petition.
Every year, city planners can spend around $100,000 to spend on traffic calming projects, according to Kristen Dixon, Penticton’s general manager of infrastructure.
To steer the attention of city engineers towards a particular traffic concern, Dixon recommends filling out this form.
Brunswick Street in Penticton.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/google.ca/map
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