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Surrey pedestrian killed had complained about feeling ‘invisible’ in crosswalk before

Sunshine might’ve been factor in crash that killed Emily Sanregret, 21
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A young Surrey woman who was fatally struck by a car while walking in a crosswalk on her way to work had complained about that crossing before.

Police have not released the victim’s name but numerous Facebook posts have revealed her to be Emily Sanregret, 21. She died in hospital on Wednesday night, six days after the 7 a.m. crash at 168th Street and 60th Avenue.

Leanne Waniek, owner of Kidz Rock Daycare, was Sanregret’s boss.

The crash happened nearby.

“That’s where she was going, to work. We’re just waiting right now for any news on any memorial, things like that,” she told the Now-Leader on Thursday afternoon.

Surrey RCMP investigators are looking into whether the bright morning sunshine was a factor in the crash.

“The pedestrian was in a crosswalk,” Corporal Scotty Schumann said. “Investigators are going to be looking at the sun being a factor.”

Schumann said the driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with police. Speeding and impaired driving are not considered factors in this crash, he added.

The driver was heading east, into the morning sun.

Waniek said Sanregret had complained about the crossing.

“Cloverdale’s grown up, there’s been more and more congestion in the area. I do know that there has been problems with the sun, just the way it hits sometimes. I know that we’ve experienced it and I think that it was mentioned even in the accident with Emily. I do know that Emily had complained about it before, about that being a difficult intersection to use as a crosswalk.”

“She just seemed to feel invisible and obviously it did end up being, unfortunately, what happened I think.”

“I think it’s just the congestion,” Waniek said. “It’s a very small intersection and there’s traffic coming from everywhere. Anything that can be done to any intersection to make it safer is a good thing.”

“It’s just a terrible, terrible tragedy all around. There’s really no point in being angry at somebody it sounds to me like it was just a horrible, horrible second and not good for anybody. Hopefully everyone out there gets to know what a wonderful person she was. Hopefully we can get a bursary or a grant out there for people like her that are wanting to work with children, in her name. Just remember her. I think that is probably the most important thing, that everybody just remembers her.”

Sanregret had worked as an early childhood educator, with children ages three to five.

“They naturally listened to her and gravitated towards her,” Waniek said. “There was just a gentleness about her that they really seemed to respond to.“

The investigation continues and police are asking witnesses to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.

Schumann said the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS) is investigating. The 20-member ICARS unit is based in Surrey and investigates roughly 200 crashes each year, between Boston Bar and Pemberton.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com

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About the Author: Tom Zytaruk

I write unvarnished opinion columns and unbiased news reports for the Surrey Now-Leader.
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