The high-noon hubbub of holiday makers came to a sudden halt on Friday (July 28) after a frightening incident involving two pedestrians on Connaught Drive.

Just before one in the afternoon, two adult pedestrians from Edmonton were crossing Connaught by way of the zebra crosswalk between the Friends of Jasper building and the CIBC. As they passed through the first lanes of oncoming traffic, they were hit by a white Jeep driven by a tourist from the United States.

“I heard a screech and when I looked out the window, I saw one of the pedestrians flying through the air,” said eyewitness (and Fitzhugh publisher, in the interests of full disclosure) Ross Pugh. Pugh immediately dialled 9-1-1, as did another passer-by with a cell phone.

Emergency crews were on the scene within moments, municipal bylaw officer Kevin Myles and deputy fire chief Ron Stanko directed traffic as RCMP constables interviewed witnesses and the occupants of the Jeep. Two ambulances also responded, and paramedics quickly stabilized the crash victims, loading them via back board onto waiting stretchers. 

While the scene seemed grim and attracted a gaggle of onlookers on both sidewalks, this story would have a happy ending, at least for the pedestrians. Transported from the scene to the Seton Healthcare Centre, the pair did not suffer serious injuries.

“There was nothing significant,” confirmed RCMP Constable Garret Dueck, who was unable to provide any specifics on the pedestrians’ condition later that same afternoon.

“They might be kept overnight for observation, but I’m not sure.” he said.

Dueck also confirmed that the Edmontonians had been hit while in the marked crosswalk, making driver error the only cause of the crash. While as of Friday the incident was still considered to be under investigation, charges had already been laid, with the driver facing one count of failing to stop for a pedestrian at a crosswalk.

Dueck said that there was no indication that the driver of the Jeep had been speeding or that any other factor contributed to the accident.

“The vehicle was travelling at a slow rate, in the right lane of traffic and the driver just took his eyes off the road for one second and that’s all it takes.”

While substantial incidents on Jasper’s downtown streets are generally few and far between, only two days prior to the collision on Connaught, a female cyclist was removed by ambulance from the scene of an accident on Patricia Street. Dueck said that with tourist season in full swing drivers, cyclist and pedestrians alike have to be extra cautious while moving through the downtown core.

“We’re in this community with pedestrians, bikers and motorists and everyone needs to be aware of one another.”