SUV driver injures senior in North Vancouver crosswalk

A North Vancouver senior suffered broken bones and a head injury after the driver of an SUV struck him in a Delbrook crosswalk Thursday evening.

Police say the incident happened just after 5 p.m. at the intersection of Delbrook Avenue at Evergreen Place.

The driver was headed south on Delbrook when a 68-year-old North Vancouver man was crossing in the marked crosswalk. He had nearly made it to the west sidewalk when he was hit. The driver told investigators he slammed on the brakes when he saw the pedestrian but slid about 10 feet, knocking him to the ground.

The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance and required surgery on Friday.

The driver, a 62-year-old North Vancouver man, told investigators at the scene he was driving about 30 kilometres per hour at the time of the collision, but that he couldn’t see the victim because of the dark and rainy conditions.

The collision is still under investigation and police have not yet sought charges.

Impairment by drugs and alcohol are not a factor, according to police.

Following the injury, police are pleading with the public to be extra cautious at intersections and crosswalks.