Another hit and run involving pedestrian in Waterloo Region

Waterloo regional police say a 25-year-old woman has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a vehicle at Ottawa Street and David Bergey Drive.

It happened around 7:30 a.m. Friday.

Police said the driver initially stopped but then left the scene, making it the second hit and run involving a pedestrian in as many days in Waterloo Region.

The woman’s injuries are serious but non-life-threatening, police said. Part of Ottawa Street was closed Friday morning as police investigated.

Brendan Panikkar has lived in the area for three years and said dangerous driving is getting worse.

“You can hear traffic on Ottawa all the time. People speeding all the time, horns all the time,” Panikkar said.

“They will always rush through to beat red lights. So no, [I’m] not shocked.”

Police investigate a hit and run at the intersection of Ottawa Street South and David Bergey Drive in Kitchener on Dec. 29, 2023. (CTV Kitchener)

Another area resident Lauren Onslow is seeing similar problems.

"I think it's getting worse with all of the new development and we do have a lot of speeding that happens along Ottawa Street here," Onslow said. "We do a lot of walking around here, especially with the dogs so yeah, [it's] not great."

MORE HIT AND RUNS

The Friday morning incident is the third hit and run in Waterloo Region in just two days and the second involving a pedestrian.

Police are still searching for a dark-coloured vehicle that struck a 27-year-old woman in Cambridge Thursday. Police said her injuries are non-life-threatening.

Investigators are also looking for a pickup truck involved in a hit and run at Main and Dundas streets in Cambridge on Thursday. Police said the other driver suffered minor injuries.

'I WANT TRAFFIC TO BE SAFE'

Those who walk the streets every day hope the responsible drivers face consequences.

“Hopefully they catch the person that did it and make an example of them,” Panikkar said. “I’ve got a dog. I’m going to have a kid on the way too. I want traffic to be safe, people to follow and the laws.”

CTV News reached out to police for an interview but the request was not granted.