Two pedestrians killed at Hornsby intersection, plea for changes

AN  ELDERLY man is the second pedestrian to be killed in six months at a notorious Hornsby intersection.

Flowers left at the intersection of Bridge and Peats Ferry roads following the fatal on Sunday. Picture: Joel Carrett

• Wheelchair-bound boy, 16, killed in Hornsby after he was hit by a truck

AN  ELDERLY man is the second pedestrian to be killed in six months at a notorious Hornsby intersection, resulting in a road safety advocate calling for far-reaching changes to protect pedestrians.

The 81-year-old man was crossing Bridge Rd on Sunday about 1pm when a bus allegedly hit him while turning from Peats Ferry Rd. The man died at the scene.

It is the second tragedy in less than six months at the intersection after wheelchair-bound Leon Zhu, 16, was killed in December when he was hit by a truck.

The notorious intersection at Bridge and Peats Ferry roads in Hornsby. Picture: Joel Carrett

A Roads and Maritime Services spokesman said a review of pedestrian safety at the intersection would be carried out in conjunction with NSW Police.

But Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman Harold Scruby said more needed to be done to stop the rising number of pedestrian fatalities in NSW.

This year, 29 pedestrians have died on NSW roads — up from 17 at the same time last year.

Mr Scruby said it was common across Europe for high-density pedestrian areas to feature 30km/h zones.

“Why aren’t we doing something different to what we have been doing? This is only getting worse and the system is failing,” he said.

Emergency services at the Hornsby intersection following the death of wheelchair-bound Leon Zhu in December.

Hornsby Fire Station is on the intersection and a fire crew was quickly on the scene on Sunday.

Station officer Alan Deitch said all six crew at the station did their best to perform first aid.

“We went straight across the road and did all we could. Unfortunately, he was very seriously injured,” he said.

Mr Deitch said the bus driver was very shaken up after the incident. The 54-year-old man was taken to Hornsby police station for mandatory testing.

Hornsby Council declined to comment about any potential changes to that intersection while the police investigation was ongoing.

On Tuesday, another pedestrian was hospitalised after being hit by a van in nearby Wahroonga. The 43-year-old is in a serious but stable condition.

The man was allegedly hit by a Volkswagen transporter van about 5.30pm on Myra St.