Blackburn North crossing where Jack Power, 10, killed often ignored by drivers

THE Blackburn North pedestrian crossing where a 10-year-old boy was fatally hit by a van is regularly ignored by motorists, regular Springfield Rd commuters say.

Jack Power, pictured with his sister and mum, was hit by a van and killed in Blackburn North.

THE Blackburn North pedestrian crossing where a 10-year-old boy was fatally hit by a van is regularly ignored by drivers, daily Springfield Rd commuters say.

Regular road users said they often saw drivers run red lights at the crossing, while expressing their condolences for victim Jack Power, who was killed on Saturday August 18, and his family on Facebook.

Their concerns for the Springfield Rd crossing come as Jack’s mum Bonnie Power works to generate awareness of road safety to prevent future tragedies.

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“These types of accidents are on the rise and there’s just something wrong with the way we’re living our lives these days … there’s too many distractions,” Mrs Power said.

“I think this can be used as a wake-up call … I’m on a mission now for the greater good.”

Jack Power, pictured with his sister and mum, was hit by a van and killed in Blackburn North.

Posting in a private Whitehorse community Facebook group, people said they couldn’t work out why drivers didn’t seem to notice the crossing, but recalled witnessing “so many near-misses” at it.

Blackburn mum Cathy Reid told Whitehorse Leader she and her daughter used the crossing every day, and “once a month, a car will not even see it”.

“I use this crossing daily and so many cars go straight through the red light,” she said.

One driver in the online discussion admitted to almost running the red light herself.

“I’ve seen people accidentally drive through it without stopping and I’ve nearly done it myself.

“It’s not that you can’t see it but you just don’t notice it and I can’t even say why,” she posted.

“It’s fine at 3:30 when there’s heaps of kids waiting to cross, you see the kids, it’s other times.”

Nunawading mum Nadine Dains told Whitehorse Leader: “The traffic that drives down Springvale road often run the red. It’s scary.”

Bonnie Power, with Stephanie, 6, lost her son Jack after he was hit by a car in Blackburn North. Picture: Mark Stewart

She suggested installing a speed camera at the intersection of Springvale and Springfield roads could urge drivers to slow down and take better notice of the nearby traffic lights.

Other motorists have expressed concern for the road’s lighting.

Box Hill North’s Chelsea Mostyn said noticed the crossing was very dark at night. “Springfield road is very busy and much better lighting is needed urgently,” she said.

She said an audit of street lighting in the area was desperately needed, with trees blacking out street lighting.

No previous incidents or formal complaints relating to the crossing or section of Springfield Rd have been recorded by Whitehorse Council, which manages the road.

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General manager city development Jeff Green said the council was “investigating if any safety improvements can be made in the vicinity of the pedestrian crossing”.

Jack Power was hit by a Toyota HiAce van as he crossed Springfield Rd before 6.30pm on August 18 with his six-year-old sister and 10-year-old friend.

The driver, a 45-year-old Blackburn North man, was interviewed by police and has been released pending further inquiries. Detectives are investigating the incident, but believe he braked to avoid hitting Jack as he crossed the road.