‘Absolute tragedy’: girl killed in crash

Vehicle left roadway and struck toddler, 3, in driveway

A Monaghan Ward councillor is calling on the city to install a threeway stop after a three-year-old girl was killed in a collision Thursday morning on Woodglade Boulevard in a residential area of Peterborough’s west end.

Around 9 a.m., a vehicle left the roadway and struck the girl who was in the driveway of a home, according to city police Staff Sgt. Dan MacLean.

Two other children were also in the driveway at the time, but were not injured, MacLean said.

“The child was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, and has since succumbed to those injuries,” MacLean told reporters at the scene on Thursday afternoon. “It is an absolute tragedy that this event had occurred.” MacLean couldn’t say what caused the driver of the vehicle to

leave the roadway, adding investigators are on the scene to determine what occurred.

Coun. Matthew Crowley said Thursday he wants the city to place a three-way stop at the corner of Oakwood Crescent and Woodglade in the wake of the fatality.

“Speeding and dangerous driving has been something the residents on Kawartha Heights Boulevard and Woodglade have been complaining about for years,” Crowley stated in a social media posting.

“The term ‘Kawartha Heights Speedway’ has been used for years to describe traffic in that area. This is no longer something to be joked about, but instead is a serious problem than needs immediate intervention by the city.”

Crowley noted that some might find a three-way stop to be an inconvenience.

“This may be a welcome change for many, not enough change for some and an inconvenience for others, but this change is needed — and in this case the change has come far too late to save the life of a child.” Crowley stated.

“My heart is broken and words cannot express the overwhelming sadness I feel for the family of the child who was struck on Woodglade,” Crowley added.

Police are asking for anyone with information about the collision to contact them at 705876-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-2228477 or stopcrimehere.ca

“The investigation will unfold and no one, not the family not neighbours, not witnesses, nor any first responder, including the dispatchers who took the call, will be left untouched,” city police Chief Stuart Betts stated. “Driving is a privilege. Be safe on our roads and in our community.”