Police lay 36 charges in school safety zones following crossing guard death

In the days following the death of a crossing guard in Barrhaven, Ottawa police conducted multiple enforcement measures in the nation’s capital.

According to officials, on March 26 and 27, the road safety team was in 18 school zones in the west and south areas of the city. Police said they issued 36 provincial offence notices to drivers, including 14 for disobeying a stop sign and seven for speeding.

On the second enforcement day, police said they caught one driver travelling almost double the limit — 79 km/h in a 40 km/h zone on Abbott Street East in Stittsville.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility. Please slow down and obey signage in school zones so our most vulnerable road users can get to their destinations safely,” the statement from police reads.

This comes after a hit-and-run in Barrhaven where a crossing guard was killed. Support for the family and friends of Peter Clark poured in after the news broke that a suspect was arrested in connection with the incident.

The crossing guard was on duty around 8:20 a.m. on March 23 in at the intersection of Kennevale Drive and Cedarview Road. He was a guard for Mary Honeywell Public School.

He was struck by a vehicle, suffering critical injuries, and later died in hospital. On Tuesday afternoon, Ottawa police said they arrested a 19-year-old in connection with the hit-and-run case. The teen is facing a charge of accident resulting in death under the Criminal Code.

“My thoughts are with the family and friends of Peter Clark, a crossing guard and beloved member of our community in Nepean who was killed in a hit-and-run,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said on social media. “Thank you to the local authorities who are investigating this incident and working to bring justice following this terrible tragedy.”

Peter Clark, a crossing guard in Barrhaven, was killed when a vehicle hit him while on duty. (OPS)
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