Rusty lamp post crashes down, misses Thunder Bay pedestrian

A four-metre lamp post toppled to the ground outside Victoriaville Centre in Thunder Bay yesterday afternoon, narrowly missing a pedestrian. 

Donald Gagnon told CBC News the lamp brushed his shoulder before hitting the pavement.

"We were just standing by the post there, me and my buddy, and it … just fell over and almost hit me,” he said.

"There was a mad rust build-up and we knew it was going down.  It was just a matter of time. It was leaning over and it was kind of rusted, and I guess someone would know it's gonna fall down."

Passer-by Rosario Armenti said other lamp posts in the Victoria Avenue and Brodie Street area could also pose a hazard.

"They're so rusted, they're gonna fall down too."

Several other lamp poles near the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Brodie Street are visibly corroded at the base.