North Vancouver RCMP say a charge is pending after a driver struck a pedestrian in a Lower Lonsdale crosswalk.
The victim was crossing Lonsdale on the south side of First Street when the driver turning left onto Lonsdale struck him, causing him to fall back and hit his head, according to Staff Sgt. Susan Sanford.
Bystander Pat Riccardi was having coffee nearby when the collision happened.
“All of a sudden, we heard a screech and a huge smash,” he said. “A lady screamed and ran over to this guy lying on the road and he was bleeding profusely.”
Riccardi remembered his first aid training and used his shirt as a gauze pack in hopes it would stop the bleeding.
“I had no choice,” he said. “I kept the pressure on his head until the ambulance showed up. The poor guy. I felt sorry for him.”
Luckily, the police say, the injury appears to be minor and the victim was expected to be released from hospital Monday.
There were several witnesses and the driver admitted what happened, said Sanford, adding that eventually the driver will be ticketed.
“The driver was most apologetic. He said he did not see him in his blind spot,” she said. “Because there is a head injury, we always wait just to make sure nothing has come of it.”
