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“Speed, at this time, doesn’t appear to be a factor in the collision,” he said. “It’s more so the visibility.”

However, ter Kuile qualified those statements, adding the witness account of the driver’s speed hasn’t been corroborated by scientific measurements taken by traffic investigators.

As well, ter Kuile said motorists have a duty to maintain a speed that is safe for the driving conditions at the time, regardless of what the posted limit may be.

Photo by Gavin Young / Calgary Herald

Passersby who came upon the collision raced to help the critically-injured pedestrian until an ambulance arrived, but paramedics declared him dead at the scene.

“I wanted to see if I could help, but by the time I got there, there wasn’t much we could do,” said Harmony Hickey, who was returning home after dropping off her daughter at school.

“I was holding him and we were trying to get him to be responsive,” added Hickey, who said she attended nursing school and has some medical training.

The driver, meanwhile, remained at the scene and was distraught and crying.

“It’s heartbreaking — it’s unfortunate all around,” Hickey said.

The collision sparked an emotional reaction from one resident of the area, who said drivers speeding along Erin Woods Boulevard have been a long-standing problem.

“This has been going on for years. Nobody’s been doing anything about it,” said Dean Roach, who said he has called police to complain about the issue.

Roach, who said he has two young daughters, said he’s long been concerned children playing in the neighbourhood would get hit by a speeding driver.

“I scream at (drivers) … to slow down.”

However, the preliminary indication from police is that speed wasn’t a factor in Friday’s incident.

jvanrassel@calgaryherald.com

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