One man rushed to hospital Thursday in critical condition after he was hit by a vehicle while crossing the street has died in hospital, police said Friday.
Police said the driver of a white pick-up truck allegedly rear ended another vehicle while travelling eastbound on 63 Avenue on the south side just before 6 p.m.
It’s believed the driver then travelled northbound on Gateway Boulevard, with the driver of the other vehicle following – the suspect vehicle then headed eastbound on Whyte Avenue, where it was reported the vehicle hit a 63-year-old man who was crossing Whyte at 101 Street.
According to witnesses, the driver of the truck appeared to be acting strangely before he drove into that intersection on a red light.
“He was driving so slowly into the intersection that I can’t imagine him not seeing him, like we were watching [thinking] ‘surely this man is going to stop’,” Witness Amanda Bird said.
But he didn’t, another witness said the pedestrian was hit more than once.
“[The] truck realized he hit the pedestrian so he hit him again, the gentleman fell over again, and actually ran over him,” Katelyn Knowles-Turner said.
That’s when Good Samaritans stepped in, some trying to help the pedestrian.
“His eyes were open, he was breathing but he wasn’t able to talk, he wasn’t responding to anything people were saying to him,” Witness Brendan Taylor said.
Others stepped up to stop the driver of the truck, who fled the scene of that collision as well, he was boxed in by some drivers just west of 99 Street on Whyte.
“We pulled him out of the vehicle and held him against the vehicle, and said ‘Don’t move’,” Knowles-Turner said. “They pulled the keys out of the ignition and said ‘You’re not going anywhere’.”
Troy Clayton Tessman, 35, was taken into custody – and multiple charges are pending.
The pedestrian was taken to hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries – his name has not been released.
With files from Nicole Weisberg
