MONTREAL- The death of a five-year-old girl by an STM bus Saturday -- despite continuing concerns over safety in the busy intersection -- is raising some questions as to whether it was preventable.

The intersection at Sherbrooke St. E at Honore-Beaugrand St. near the Honore-Beaugrand metro station was flagged by CTV Montreal in a recent investigation by Caroline Van Vlaardingen called Blacklist.

In the CTV report, the spot was named the fourth most dangerous intersection for pedestrians in the city. The finding was based on a Montreal public health doctor's report sent to city officials in 2008.

"Number 4 in all of Montreal," said Morency, who has been compiling accident records since 1999 and presented the findings to the city in 2008.

"Do we give priority to cars, buses or trucks -- or do you give priority to pedestrians?" he said.

Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Borough Mayor Real Menard said the statistics weren't a surprise.

"I know it was a dangerous place but I cannot say it was number 4 in the rankings," he said. "It's time to change the situation."

Menard said he asked the STM to begin working on improved safety installations at the terminal, adding that he wonders why drivers' warnings went unheeded.

"When the bus drivers say three accidents happened, I don't understand why the STM didn't change the situation," he said.

The STM said it will await the findings of a coroner's report into how the child died to determine if any action by the transit company or the city could have prevented her death.

One concerned citizen said the STM and city must fix the hazardous intersection regardless of the outcome.

"One thing I'm afraid of is that they find out the little girl ran so therefore it's not the STM's fault and therefore nothing needs to be done to improve safety. I would really hate to hear that," said Joanne Seguin.

In October, Seguin, an engineer and mother of three who lives in the area, compiled and presented a detailed report to city officials warning of the dangers at Honore-Beaugrand and Sherbrooke.

"I think we need to do something no matter what the cause of the accident is," she said. "I'm a concerned citizen and I like this neighbourhood."

Despite new signs around the metro warning pedestrians of oncoming buses, some are calling for a complete security audit on the intersection.

Seguin and the report's co-author said they felt the intersection was about to be made more dangerous with the addition of another bus route.

 

"And if we do nothing it will become worse and worse," she said, who spoke to the girls' untimely death.

"I was shocked. I'm a mother myself, and this is every parent's nightmare."