Residents in London’s Old North neighbourhood are rallying to support a beloved crossing guard who was injured Tuesday morning after a two-vehicle collision sent a car onto the sidewalk at Colborne and St. James streets.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. when a black sedan struck the woman, who was at her usual post. She was taken to hospital with undetermined injuries. Both drivers remained at the scene, and the collision remains under investigation. No charges have been laid.
The injured crossing guard is well-known in the community for her dedication to student safety. David Hallam, a nearby resident, called her a “community fixture” who’s always present regardless of the weather. Another neighbour, Teresa McLellan, echoed the sentiment, describing the job as “practically volunteer work” done out of care for the community.
McLellan has long raised concerns about the safety of the intersection, citing 20 collisions in six years—six of which she says were serious. Despite a pedestrian crosswalk and signage on St. James Street, she believes confusion persists because north-south traffic on Colborne Street does not stop, often leading to dangerous assumptions by drivers.
She advocates for additional safety measures, such as speed bumps, and said neighbours are already discussing how to raise funds to support the injured crossing guard.