Senior charged after 16-year-old struck, killed in marked crosswalk in Saanich
A senior driver who struck and killed a teenager last year in a marked crosswalk in Saanich, B.C., has been charged with a traffic offence in the crash.
Margarita Natalie Citron, born in 1950, is facing one count of driving without due care and attention.
Kaydence Bourque, 16, was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Cedar Hill Cross Road and Merriman Drive around 9:45 p.m. when he was hit by a driver. (Crystal Bourque/Facebook)
Citron made her first court appearance Wednesday, one year after Kaydence Bourque, 16, was struck while crossing at the intersection of Cedar Hill Cross Road and Merriman Drive.
The Reynolds Secondary student was rushed to Victoria General Hospital in critical condition on the night of Dec. 6, 2021.
In a statement following the collision, Crystal Bourque said her son had just got off the bus when he was struck less than "100 feet from our front door."
The grieving mother said her son never regained consciousness after the crash and was pronounced dead at 4:20 p.m. the following day.
The driver remained at the scene and co-operated with the police investigation, the Saanich Police Department said.
'HUGE HOLE'
Bourque's aunt, Sherri Edwards, told CTV News on Thursday her nephew's loss is felt constantly by the family.
"It’s the one-year anniversary and it’s been devastating," said Edwards. "Every anniversary, every birthday, every holiday, there’s a huge hole in all of our hearts."
Edwards got a tattoo to honour her nephew.
"It's his heartbeat," she said. "It’s his EKG from the hospital."
Citron is scheduled to appear in a Victoria court on Jan 4, and Bourque's family is concerned she will only face a fine.
Edwards says she would like to see Citron's licence revoked completely.
"Our family is shattered by the single motor vehicle charge laid in regards to the death of our beloved Kaydence," the teen's mother said in a statement Thursday.
"A vehicle can be used as a weapon and thusly we feel the consequences of killing a child should be much greater," she said.
SAFETY UPGRADES
Since the crash, the District of Saanich has taken steps to improve road safety along the corridor leading up to the crosswalk.
Flexible bollards have been erected, flashing lights at the crosswalk have been upgraded and a new streetlight has been installed above the crosswalk to increase nighttime visibility.
The new safety upgrades along the street are pictured. Dec. 8, 2022. (CTV News)
The family says more needs to be done.
"We very much would like to see a reduction in the speed limit," said Edwards. "There are multiple schools in the area and there [are] a lot of children that live in that area."
Currently, the speed limit is 50 km/h. The family would like to see that dropped to 30 km/h.
In early 2023, Saanich will embark on a safety study for the Cedar Hill Cross Road corridor. Included in that study is an evaluation of the speed limit.
"He will always, forever, be missed," said Edwards.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Here's how much more Canadian landlords are asking for now, according to a just-released report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.