Pedestrian struck by car near Inglewood bridge

A man is in hospital with serious injuries after he stepped into traffic in southeast Calgary.

At about 7 a.m., a slow-moving 2009 Dodge Caliber was travelling eastbound on Ninth Avenue S.E. near the bridge over the Elbow River when the pedestrian tried to cross the street, said Calgary police Sgt. Wayne McCormick. The man was not crossing at a marked crosswalk.

"Unfortunately a pedestrian was hit by a car. From what witnesses [are] indicating, the car travelling was at a normal speed and all of a sudden there was a pedestrian in front of him," said McCormick.

The man, in his early 30s, was taken to the Foothills hospital in life-threatening condition.

Ninth Avenue was closed for the police investigation for several hours.  Alcohol was not a factor in the collision, said investigators.

"This is a very safe location. A lot of people use this walking from Inglewood into town, to their work," McCormick said.

Michel Savard, who walks across the bridge to and from work every day, agreed.

"There's no pedestrian crossover here. There's a way under the bridge," said Savard. "I don't know why anyone would be crossing in front."

McCormick reminded the public: "Whether it's with the –30 C or good conditions in the summer, pedestrians [should] not take for granted that they can step out and a car will stop for them."