A man is expected to face charges in connection with the death of an elderly woman who was struck by a van while crossing King Street.
Police say 82-year-old Ruth Hamilton of Waterloo was using the crosswalk at Hickory Street around 10 a.m. when she was struck.
Waterloo Regional Police Sgt. Scott Richardson says “The female was into the southbound lanes when a cube van turning from Hickory Street onto King Street southbound struck her.”
Richardson adds many people rushed over to assist as traffic continued to flow even after the collision.
“They were instrumental in protecting her on the pavement after she was struck…construction workers moved a sign into the intersection so that it would block traffic, another witness moved her car right up and protected her as well.”
Caitlin Quigley, the general manager at Morty’s Pub, was among those who were in the area.
She says “I ran out onto the road, had some construction crews grab some large signage, something to block traffic turning off of Hickory Street…A pedestrian had run over and was able to see that the victim was still breathing, but not for very long.”
Despite the efforts, Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect vehicle that had fled the scene was tracked to nearby King and Central Streets, just south of the where the incident occurred.
Again the public was involved, Richardson says, “We also had a witness follow the suspect motor vehicle in their own vehicle.”
The driver, a 55-year-old man from Wilmot Township was arrested and police say charges are pending.
Streets in the area, including King Street North from Hickory Street to University Avenue were closed as police investigated until about 6 p.m.
Witnesses say weather was not a factor as heavy rain started just after the incident, but police are looking into whether the driver and pedestrian were obeying traffic signals.
One area business owner says the intersection has been a problem for years.
