Call for controlled crossing after student hit by truck outside Wellington campus

The University is calling for an extremely busy pedestrian crossing in Wallace St, Wellington, to be controlled with traffic lights after student was hit by a truck and seriously injured this morning.

The young woman was struck by a Wellington City Council truck just before 9am and was knocked to the ground, suffering broken teeth, facial injuries and other bruising. She was taken to Wellington Hospital by ambulance, treated for her injuries and for shock and will be kept in hospital overnight.

The University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Wellington) Professor Andrea McIlroy says the crossing outside the main entrance to the campus is used by Wellington High School pupils as well as Massey students and other members of the public in what is a high-density housing area of Mt Cook adjacent to bus stops and a busy cafe.

University staff and students have reported previous near-misses at the crossing.

"It’s not just our University students we are concerned for," Professor McIlroy says. "There are a huge amount of people who use that crossing every day and very high traffic volumes on Wallace St. We would most definitely like to see it become a controlled crossing."

The University will contact the Wellington City Council to request a review of the crossing's current uncontrolled status. In the meantime, she urges students, staff and motorists to take particular care.