Pedestrian dies in truck crash near Little Italy

A 77-year-old woman is dead and a 71-year-old woman is in hospital with head injuries after being struck by a truck at the intersection of Blanger Street and Chteaubriand Avenue this morning.

The collision happened just before 10:30 a.m. as a truck was turning left ontoBlanger. The pedestrians were crossingChteaubriand when they were hit, Montreal police said.

"The truck didn't see the two pedestrians," said Const.Raphael Bergeron.

The 77-year-old woman was trapped under the truck for 20 minutes as emergency crews worked to lift the vehicle andfree her, accordingtoUrgences-Sant.

Police say shewas transported to hospital in critical condition, but was later declared dead.

The other pedestrian, 71, wasn't trapped but suffered significant injuries, and remains in serious condition. Police say her life is not in danger.

The driver of the truck was not injured, but was treated for shock.

The police collision reconstruction team was brought to the scene and officers are interviewing several witnesses.

"At this moment, the truck was facing a green light," Bergeron said.

"It is still to be determinedif the pedestrians were also crossing on a green light at first and it turned to a red light."

Advocates call for action

There is growing pressure on politicians tomake the city safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

"All the expertise is there. InMontreal we have the Charte dupiton and we have the Plan de transport whichvery clearly say what the priorities are. But at the political level, the politicians seem to be, you know, stuck," said Dominique Sorel, an advocate for pedestrian safety.

Sorel said trucks should be equipped with cameras when they're on city streets.