Ottawa police are appealing to the public for help after an elderly woman was struck by a vehicle in a South Keys parking lot this week and died from her injuries.
The collision happened at approximately 3 p.m. Monday at a parking lot in the 2200 block of Bank Street, a busy commercial area in Ottawa's south end that includes a major shopping centre and transit hub. The woman was 83 years old. She was taken to hospital with critical injuries and later pronounced dead.
Ottawa Police Service issued a media release Wednesday asking witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage from the area to contact investigators. No charges have been publicly announced.
A Reminder About Parking Lot Safety
Parking lots are among the most dangerous environments for pedestrians, a fact that often surprises drivers who assume lower speeds mean lower risk. In reality, parking lots combine unpredictable vehicle movements, limited sight lines, distracted drivers, and pedestrians of all ages and mobility levels into a compressed space.
Ottawa has seen a number of serious parking lot collisions in recent years, and pedestrian safety advocates have long called for design changes, including raised walkways, better signage, and reduced vehicle access points. That would make these spaces safer.
For older pedestrians in particular, parking lots present elevated risk. Reduced mobility and slower reaction times, combined with inattentive drivers who may be focused on finding a spot rather than watching for pedestrians, is a dangerous combination.
South Keys: A Busy Corner of Ottawa
The 2200 block of Bank Street in South Keys is home to one of Ottawa's major commercial nodes, attracting heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic throughout the day. The area is served by OC Transpo bus routes and sees significant foot traffic from nearby residential neighbourhoods.
For residents and regular visitors to the area, Wednesday's announcement was a sobering reminder of the risks that can exist in familiar, everyday spaces.
Ottawa Police Request
If you were in the area of 2200 Bank Street on Monday afternoon and witnessed the collision, or if your dashcam captured footage from that area. Ottawa Police are asking you to contact them directly. Information can be submitted to the Ottawa Police collision investigation unit.
The family of the victim has not been identified publicly.
Source: CBC Ottawa
