In the early hours yesterday, a tragic incident unfolded in Ottawa’s Elmvale area when a pedestrian was struck and killed by a commercial truck. The collision happened near the intersection of St. Laurent Boulevard and Smyth Road around 5:30 a.m., according to Ottawa Police Services.
First responders arrived quickly at the scene but sadly could not save the victim. Police have not yet released the identity of the deceased, pending notification of family members.
“This is a devastating situation for everyone involved,” said Sergeant Marco Desimone of the Ottawa Police collision investigation unit. “Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased during this difficult time.”
Witnesses at the nearby Tim Hortons described hearing a loud impact followed by immediate calls for help. Janet Wilkins, who was waiting for her morning coffee, told me she rushed outside after hearing commotion.
“Everything happened so fast. One minute it was a normal morning, the next there were emergency vehicles everywhere,” Wilkins said. “It’s heartbreaking to think someone left home and won’t be returning to their loved ones.”
The driver of the truck remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. No charges have been filed at this time as the investigation continues.
This marks the third pedestrian fatality in Ottawa this year, raising concerns among community safety advocates. The City of Ottawa’s transportation committee had recently highlighted the Elmvale area as needing improved pedestrian infrastructure during last month’s council meeting.
Councillor Jean Cloutier, whose ward includes the affected area, expressed his condolences while calling for increased safety measures. “Every traffic fatality is one too many. We need to continue improving pedestrian safety across our city, especially in high-traffic commercial areas.”
The section of St. Laurent Boulevard was closed for nearly six hours yesterday as collision reconstruction specialists documented the scene. Local businesses reported disruptions throughout the morning commute.
Ottawa Police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage from the area between 5:15 a.m. and 5:45 a.m. to contact their collision investigation unit.
According to city data, this intersection has seen eight serious collisions in the past three years, though this is the first fatality. The Ottawa Traffic Safety Council has previously identified early morning hours as particularly dangerous for pedestrians during fall and winter months when visibility is reduced.
“When darkness combines with rush hour traffic, we see heightened risks,” explained traffic safety expert Leanne Morrison from the University of Ottawa. “Commercial vehicles have significant blind spots, and pedestrians in dark clothing can be difficult to spot.”
Local residents have started placing flowers at the scene, creating a small memorial. The community center in Elmvale Acres has announced it will host a safety awareness workshop next week in response to the tragedy.
As we head into the darker winter months, police are reminding pedestrians to wear reflective clothing and use designated crosswalks. Drivers are urged to remain vigilant, especially during dawn and dusk hours when visibility can be challenging.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities expected to provide updates in the coming days.
