Woman, 88, hit by Saskatoon Transit bus, police investigating
Lella Prochner's son warning public to be aware of buses at walk signals
The City of Saskatoon and local police are investigating after a public transit bus hit 88-year-old woman earlier this month.
On Dec. 3, Lella Prochner was hit by a city bus while crossing the street at the intersection of Third Avenue N. and 23rd Street E. in downtown Saskatoon.
Her son, Ron Prochner, said the bus was turning left as Lella was crossing the street on a walk signal. It bumped her before running over both of her feet and legs, he said.
Ron believes his mother must have been in the driver's blind spot, saying the bus did not stop after she was hit.
He wants to warn people to be vigilant when crossing the street as two people have been killed by city buses on marked crosswalks in Edmonton since September.
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Police investigating
The City of Saskatoon confirmed paramedics were called to the downtown terminal around 6:30 a.m. CST on Dec. 3 after a woman suffered injuries to her foot after a bus departed.
Police have confirmed the bus was turning when the crash happened but declined to comment further on the circumstances of the incident while the investigation is ongoing.
Const. Ryan Ehalt said police are waiting to review video footage to assist in their investigation.
Mike Moellenbeck, the acting director and operations manager of transit, said in a statement that an internal review of this incident has yet to be concluded. In cases like this, video from the bus is retrieved and reviewed, and an investigation meeting is held with the driver to get his or her side of the story.
When the investigation is completed, Moellenbeck said transit officials will determine a cause, preventability and deliver whatever support or discipline is required to the driver.
'She's in pretty rough shape'
Ron said his mother suffered a broken right ankle, broken right heel, six broken ribs and her left leg is in a cast.
On Friday, she was still in hospital awaiting surgery on her right ankle.
"She's in pretty rough shape right now considering she was 88 and walking the streets of Saskatoon no more than a month ago," said Ron.