A 52-year-old father and Oak Bay public works employee died after being struck by an SUV at a job site in Oak Bay Wednesday morning.
The municipal worker, who has not yet been named, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Chief Const. Mark Fisher of the Oak Bay Police Department confirmed the man was killed shortly after 8 a.m. on May 17 when he was struck by a black SUV that had come around the corner at a high rate of speed. At the time of the crash, the worker was standing over a manhole on the sidewalk near Bowker Park.
The vehicle was driven by a 66-year-old Victoria woman who was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
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The flags at municipal hall were lowered to half mast and staff are being provided supports, said Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch.
“We’re all reeling a little bit. A lot of the staff are really grieving today,” Murdoch said. “We’re all pretty devastated and shocked by this news, especially given he was killed on duty, doing work for the district.”
In keeping with the small community that rallies, there has already been an outpouring of condolences and thoughts, he added.
“We’re thinking of his family, friends and colleagues who are the most affected,” Murdoch said. “This loss is going to be felt.”
The B.C. Coroners Service has arrived on scene at the investigation into a fatal crash near the Oak Bay Fire Department. https://t.co/X4MWBCS3S0 pic.twitter.com/ykhVEv2eVH
— Oak Bay News (@OakBayNews) May 17, 2023
The cause of the crash is still under investigation with the B.C. Coroners Services and the Oak Bay and Saanich police departments called to the scene in the 1700-block of Monterey Avenue. Police ask anyone who saw the black SUV prior to the collision Wednesday morning, or has dash cam or other video, to email media@saanichpolice.ca.
Jim Harker lives in the neighbourhood and said a team of municipal workers was preparing to do work in the area but he wasn’t sure what their plans were for the day.
At about 8:10 a.m. he heard the crash and stepped out of his home.
“I could hear the workers screaming for help.”
As he approached the scene the firefighters came running out of the hall across the street and he stepped back.
“I could see that something horrific had happened.”
A GoFundMe has been started to support the family of the worker and had raised $1,000 as of mid-afternoon on Wednesday. The fundraiser can be found at https://bit.ly/3Ipgq0T.
The roadway was closed to traffic between Cranmore Street and Oak Bay Avenue with the closure expected to last several hours.
The Bowker Park path was also closed between Monterey Avenue and Hampshire Road.
The Oak Bay drop-off depot will be closed for the rest of Wednesday and the district asked anyone whose garbage was not collected to put it out again Thursday for pick up.
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