Green given to Enderby traffic lights following fatal

The tragic death of a Splatsin man has driven forward crosswalk improvements on Highway 97A in Enderby.

Traffic signals will be installed at the Canyon Road intersection, following a push for safety improvements from the band after a pedestrian was killed July 1.

Harry Jones Jr. was walking through the crosswalk at the intersection he was killed by a vehicle.

Splatsin made a plea days later for a traffic light to be installed at the intersection.

READ MORE: Splatsin calls for traffic light at crosswalk where band member was killed

Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Splatsin chief and council and Enderby mayor issued a statement Tuesday, July 11 about improvements.

“The ministry and Splatsin have been working together to design safety upgrades at the intersection of Highway 97A and Canyon Road. In collaboration with Splatsin and supported by the City of Enderby and District of Sicamous, the ministry is moving ahead with installing signals to improve safety for pedestrians and vehicles at this busy intersection.”

The design for the upgrade is on schedule to be completed this summer, with construction expected to be completed this fall.

“This tragic event has severely impacted our entire community,” said Splatsin Coun. Sabrina Vergata. “We are all in mourning for our dear Harry, who was simply trying to cross the road at a designated crosswalk.”

Jones, 62, was well-known in the community as a kind person, a talented artist and a colourful personality. He was an active participant in many of the band’s activities.

“It is absolutely unacceptable that this preventable tragedy occurred,” said Vergata. “This outcome is a direct result of poor crosswalk lighting. For such a busy highway, a regular set of traffic lights is needed as soon as possible to ensure that pedestrians may safely cross in the future and tragedies like this do not happen again.”

READ MORE: Well known Splatsin man identified as pedestrian fatally struck near Enderby