Monday, February 9, 2009

Family Hopes Inquiry Will Prevent More Snow Truck Deaths

A 58-year-old woman was crushed to death Sunday morning when a snow plow collided with this Toyota Echo on Route 158 in Joliette. Photo from CTV.

From CBC News:

4 pedestrians have died in 3 separate accidents involving snow trucks this winter.

The family of a Montreal woman who was the first of four people to die this winter after accidents with snow removal equipment hopes a public inquiry called Friday will prevent further deaths.

Rajaa Benkiran, 49, died in mid-December after a snow truck hit her as she walked across Jean Brillant Street in Côte-des-Neiges.

Her son Alami Marrouni Réda said he still has many questions about why his mother died so suddenly.

"Yesterday, I had my 20th birthday … I wanted my mother with me. But unfortunately, because of what happened, she wasn't there," he said.

Quebec's head coroner, Louise Nolet, ordered the public inquiry on Friday. Each of the four deaths that will be put under the microscope involved pedestrians who were swept under the tires of privately-owned snow removal vehicles subcontracted to clean city streets.

Nolet has appointed coroner Jean-Luc Malouin to preside over inquest. No date has been set for the beginning of public hearings.

Read more
....

Update: Woman killed in highway collision with snow plow -- CTV News

No comments: