Wife of Calgary man killed in fatal collision with pedestrian speaks out about her crosswalk issues – Calgary

“He was the kindest, most generous and most loved husband, father, son and friend.”

That’s how Stina Lindenblatt describes her husband Ralph, who was killed in a tragic accident near Calgary’s Chinook Center shopping center in late November.

One night, she says her “world started to implode.”

Until now, Ralph had only been identified by police as a man in his 50s. Stina said she decided to speak out after learning that community members were pushing for lights to be installed at the crosswalk where he died.

She described Ralph as “an amazing man,” who always gives back to his community, helping his friends and family.

“He’s just an amazing, generous guy,” she said, adding how much he loved his family.

November 27, the night of the collision, was Stina’s birthday. But she and Ralph decided not to celebrate until the next day. Instead, Ralph took their daughter to the Chinook Center and then planned to pick up his son from band rehearsal.

He never succeeded.

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Police said Ralph was walking west, crossing Elbow Drive Southwest at the intersection with 61st Avenue Southwest in a marked crosswalk, when he was struck by an SUV traveling south on Elbow Drive.

The woman driving the vehicle, a 2024 Ford Escape, stopped to help him.

At the same time, a 2009 Pontiac Vibe was traveling south along Elbow Drive.

That vehicle also struck Ralph, who was later pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police said neither speed, alcohol or drugs were considered factors in either collision.

1:04
Calgary police investigate two fatal traffic incidents

Amanda Lovig Hagg Meadowlark Park Community Association, told Global News the community group has been concerned about the crosswalk for years.

“We had a death here about five or six years ago, it really shook the neighborhood and since then we’ve been hoping to get some increased security,” Lovig Hagg said. “We knew another accident was only a matter of when, not if. »

When asked what concerns neighborhood residents had regarding the crosswalk, Ward 11 Council. Kourtney Penner told Global News the city is trying to “make evidence-based decisions about crosswalk safety.”

“But the way we make decisions comes down to reporting, reporting to 311, messaging to our offices,” Penner added.

In this case, Penner said the numbers are really low compared to a few other intersections, so “the problem may be common knowledge among residents, but if it’s not elevated the right way, it it is difficult for us to act.

Lovig Hagg said she was aware that many of her neighbors had sent complaints and requests “asking for things like flashing lights, curbs or removing the crosswalk altogether.”

“But we’ve already been told that ‘lights are very expensive,’” she said. “How do you equate that to a human life?

“Something has to change. At the moment, it is not visible enough to be safe.

Stina said: “No one wants to lose their friend, their husband or their father like my children and I do, so yes, I would like to see some lights go on.”

“If anything comes out of this, I would like to see some lights,” she added. “These lights could have changed everything.

“Everyone could have had a better Christmas. It amazes me that it could have been as simple as having those lights there. I would have my husband.

Stina said she is still trying to understand Ralph’s death.

“I hear the door open. I see a car coming and I think it’s him,” she said. “But no, it’s not him.

“No one really understood that he wasn’t going to come home again.”

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