Upcoming vote to reduce speed limits in Cote-des-Neiges—NDG after multiple crashes
Monkland Grill's owner is still sweeping up shards of glass, days after a car crashed into his business, located in Montreal's Notre-Dame-de-Grace (NDG) neighbourhood.
"I was shocked, you know, it was unexpected," said Mohammad Ebrahim Jahanian.
On Wednesday night, two cars collided at the intersection of Somerled and Bessborough Avenues. After the impact, the white Hyundai hit a parked car and careened through the restaurant's terrace into the front door.
Despite the damage, no one was injured.
There were customers in the restaurant at the time, but they weren't sitting near doors or windows, said Jahanian.
Earlier that day in Cote-des-Neiges, 55-year-old Sigal Bar Weizmann died after she and another pedestrian were hit by a car. It happened on Bourret Avenue near McLynn Avenue.
A police source tells CTV News that speed was not a factor in either crash. However, some Cote-des-Neiges-NDG borough residents say they are concerned about street safety.
In 2018, the borough reduced the speed on residential streets to 30 kilometres per hour and some thoroughfare roads to 40.
Borough mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa says elected officials will vote to lower thoroughfare speed limits even more in July.
"We want to bring them to 40, and some of them actually we want to reduce them to 30 kilometres per hour," she said.
The proposition to reduce speed limits from 50 to 40 km/hr would apply to Jean Talon, St Jacques and Cote-des-Neiges Streets.
Meantime, streets such as Barclay Avenue, Plamondon Avenue, and Edouard-Montpetit Boulevard may have their speed limit reduced to 30 km/hr.
But that idea isn't sitting well with everyone in the neighbourhood.
"Changing speed limits, I don't think is going to do it. They have to make people pay for their mistakes, and that's it," said NDG resident Julia Witkowski.
For her part, the borough mayor argues that boosting police presence isn't the solution.
"Police are already more present on Cote-Saint-Luc Street, particularly in the evening and nights, because they know that people go fast, so they were already there," said Kasoki Katahwa.
Residents and business owners hope the proposed measures work, so the community doesn't have to pick up the pieces after yet another crash.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Live updates: What star witness in Trump hush money case has said on the stand so far
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial took the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.’s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease’s progression.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Canucks' Soucy suspended 1 game, Zadorov fined $5,000 for post-game crosschecks on McDavid
A Vancouver Canucks defenceman has been suspended for a game and another was handed a hefty fine after a scrum broke out at the end of Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers Sunday night.
'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sues for defamation over National Enquirer, InTouch Weekly stories
'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sued the parent company of the National Enquirer and InTouch Weekly on Monday for a story that she said falsely claimed that she was trying to help the Menendez brothers get a retrial after they were convicted of murdering their parents.
'Ready to go': Fort McMurray residents prepared for evacuation as crews battle nearby wildfire
An evacuation alert remains in place in the Fort McMurray area on Monday afternoon.
When you have a moment's notice to evacuate, what do you take?
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.