A woman who died after being hit by a car last week was among a group of neighbours concerned about increased traffic along a stretch of Goldstream Avenue.
Thousands of cars connect onto the winding residential street from the Trans-Canada Highway every day.
Meesha-chan Grubisic, a 47-year-old mother and entrepreneur, died after being hit by a car outside her house in the 1200-block of Goldstream on Thursday. It is believed that she was running after her dog, Sailor, which survived.
A makeshift memorial has been erected at the spot where Grubisic was hit, made up of flowers, a stuffed puppy dog and a hand-written sign that says “slow down.”
One neighbour, Stephanie Parsons, said Grubisic shared the concerns of many residents that too many cars drive too fast along the road, where there is no sidewalk and pedestrians have to walk around cars parked on the shoulder. Traffic has got worse since the Leigh Road interchange opened last June, Parsons said, and residents have complained to the City of Langford.
“It’s been a concern of all the residents in the area regarding this road. It’s turned into a highway,” Parsons said. “And, as a result, the road is not equipped to facilitate the traffic that comes along there. There’s no sidewalk, a lot of residents have to park on the road, which takes away any shoulder area. And it’s like playing Russian roulette every time you have to step onto that road.”
Parsons said neighbours are distraught that someone had to die for the issue to be brought to the forefront.
“We lose a life to something that’s been brought to the attention of the powers that be . . . many times.”
Lynne Ferrie, who has lived on the street for 33 years, said a traffic count after the Leigh Road interchange opened determined about 4,000 cars a day travel down “this little narrow road.” Lesley Baker, whose husband, a Victoria firefighter, was among the first to render first aid after Grubisic was hit, said she has written to the City of Langford asking for speed bumps on the road, but was told it wouldn’t be viable because it would slow down emergency vehicles.
The driver in Thursday’s incident, a 50-year-old Kamloops man, was coming down the hill on a blind corner when his Nissan Murano struck Grubisic. West Shore RCMP said it did not appear the man was speeding, but the sun glare might have prevented him from seeing Grubisic.
Langford Coun. Lanny Seaton said the council is well aware of the residents’ concerns. He said the plan has long been to build a southbound off-ramp from the Trans-Canada Highway to Leigh Road, which would allow Goldstream to be closed to highway traffic.
Seaton said Langford needs more provincial money to be able to complete the overpass.
“I think the mayor, he’s already said he’ll look at what we could do to make it safer,” Seaton said.
Grubisic is being remembered as a devoted mother to her 11-year-old daughter, Ruby, and a passionate animal lover. She ran a dog-walking and sitting company, Let’s Go Luckydog.
She was actively involved in the University of Victoria community during her studies there.
A fundraiser for Ruby’s education has been set up at YouCaring.com/meesha.for.ruby. People should be able to start donating by Monday.
