Security video from a Burnaby construction site near the place where a 14-year-old girl was killed by a dump truck last Thursday has been turned over to police as evidence, according to the developer and primary contractor working at the site.
The Byrne Creek Community School Grade 8 student was struck and killed by the truck last Thursday at about 3:20 p.m. while she was walking home from school on 11th Avenue near 16th Street.
Dog to blame?
The NOW has confirmed the dump truck involved was associated with the nearby Southgate City construction project.
Ledingham McAllister and Marcon Construction sent out a statement Monday afternoon saying CCTV video they turned over to police shows a “neighbourhood dog running out of its yard and startling the victim who then tragically ran onto the road.”
The companies suggest the girl ran between the dump truck and its hitched trailer and the driver would not have seen her.
The NOW has confirmed the video footage came from the Southgate City construction site and was turned over to police on the same day as the fatal crash.
Burnaby RCMP, however, is urging people “not to jump to conclusions.”
In a statement Monday afternoon, the detachment said the video shows only “one view of the incident” and investigators are still gathering evidence to determine what happened.
“Police are aware that a dog had been nearby at the time of the collision,” reads the statement. “Investigators are still analyzing all statements and information; however, there is no indication the dog was behaving dangerously or had previously been the subject of any complaints to police.”
Traffic management plan changes
Ledingham McAllister and Marcon Construction met with city officials Monday morning and agreed to modify the development’s traffic management plan, according to the statement sent out by the companies.
They say they will shut down a portion of 11th Avenue at the exit of their construction site, meaning trucks will now go west on 11th Avenue instead of east.
“By going west, they will go from 11th Ave to 18th Street, then 18th St to 10th Ave,” states the release.
The companies will also extend the existing sidewalk using asphalt on a portion of the south side of 11th Avenue, from 17th Street to 18th Street.
“We are assuming this responsibility from the City of Burnaby because our contractors are already on site and can get this work done quickly,” reads the statement.
Neighbours were outraged after the fatal crash, telling news media the city hasn’t done enough to keep them safe from truck traffic in the area.
Local resident Elise Frith told the NOW she had been struck by the rear-view mirror of a truck last November while walking on 11th Avenue near where the 14-year-old girl was killed.
Mayor Mike Hurley speaks
Mayor Mike Hurley talked about the tragedy at a city council meeting Monday.
Since the accident, he said people living in the neighbourhood have voiced concerns about truck traffic.
“They have told us that the high volume of construction traffic on the streets is causing significant stress to their neighbourhood, and they feel unsafe,” Hurley said. “I want to assure them that safety is our priority. We will endeavor to work with the neighbourhood immediately, close the gaps on traffic safety, to ensure people can walk through the area and feel safe.”
Hurley stressed the city will work with residents in the area to make that happen.
“I want to assure the residents that we will leave no stone unturned to get it right,” he said.
The NOW has reached out to the city with questions about the traffic management plan and is waiting to hear back.
Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
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