The start of the Labour Day long weekend in Saanich was marked by two separate crashes that saw a pedestrian killed and a motorcyclist injured.
At around 9 p.m. Friday, a woman crossing a marked crosswalk was struck and killed. The 76-year-old woman was pronounced dead on scene after emergency responders arrived at the intersection of Interurban Road and Grange Road, Saanich police said in a statement.
The driver of the vehicle remained on scene, they said.
Vehicle speed and driver impairment are not being considered as factors to the crash so far, they said.
Collision analysts are investigating the cause of the collision, and police have not yet said whether charges are being considered for the driver.
Two hours later, at around 11 p.m., a 22-year-old motorcycle rider lost control and veered off the road near the intersection of Tillicum Road and Gorge Road West.
The rider was taken to the hospital with serious injuries that are now believed to be life-threatening, police said on Saturday.
Speed was considered a factor in this single-vehicle crash, they said.
The crosswalk on Interurban Road, where the woman died, was turned into a makeshift memorial site by Saturday. Neighbours, who said that the victim was a frequent user of the road, have taped bouquets to the crosswalk traffic signal.
Anyone who witnessed the collisions or events leading up to the two crashes are asked to contact Saanich polic at 250-475-3421.
mjlo@timescolonist.com
