Pedestrian dead in Tuesday night crash on Twin Oaks Drive

A 47-year-old woman was killed by a passing pickup truck on the roadway leading into the Twin Oaks business park, say Windsor police.

The fatal collision happened shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday. Police officers and other emergency responders were sent to the intersection of Twin Oaks Drive and Munich Court, just east of Lauzon Parkway.

According to police, the woman was trying to cross Twin Oaks Drive when she was hit.

She was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Police said the driver of the pickup truck remained on the scene and has been cooperating with the investigation.

The intersection was closed for several hours while collision reconstruction specialists examined the scene.

The connection of Twin Oaks Drive with Lauzon Parkway is currently the only route to and from the business park — and also the only way to get to the site of the NextStar Energy battery plant, which is nearing completion.

Construction work on the plant closed access to Twin Oaks Drive from Anchor Drive and Banwell Road.

Workplaces in the Twin Oaks business park have warned about the traffic situation, and have been petitioning the city to create an additional route.

Unifor Local 240, which represents many workers in the area, has joined the cause, asking the public to urge council to take action. The union has drafted a form letter to be sent to the mayor, council members and the local MPP.

Amanda Strickland, the local's health and safety chairperson, said a tragic collision was predictable.

"It's pretty obvious when you have this many businesses and companies working in this small area and you have thousands and thousands of cars every day going through one entrance. It has been a disaster waiting to happen," Strickland said.

In addition to the increased vehicle congestion, Strickland said the battery plant construction forced a change of the bus route. Now the nearest stop is at Lauzon Parkway and Forest Glade — on the other side of the E.C. Row Expressway.

People who work in the Twin Oaks business park but take the bus must now walk on the overpass and the roadway.

"There's never been any type of sidewalk or pathway for pedestrians to walk in the area," Strickland said. "It wasn't an issue when there was a bus (route), because the bus would stop in front of several businesses. But now that that's removed, pedestrians are forced to walk on the roadway."

Strickland said the union is concerned about what the line-ups will be like once the battery plant is in operation and its hundreds of employees will be added to the traffic on Twin Oaks Drive.

A medical emergency or major fire at the battery plant or any other workplace on Twin Oaks Drive has the potential to lock the area for hours, Strickland warned.

She said the municipality should make creation of an alternate route a priority. "A permanent one — not just an emergency route through the battery plant's property."

The City of Windsor did not provide comment Wednesday afternoon. 

Police said their investigation into Tuesday's incident continues. Anyone with information — especially witnesses or those who have video evidence — is encouraged to call the Traffic Enforcement Unit.