Car nearly hits woman and service dog

It was at the southwest corner of Walford and Paris at about 8:15 a.m. March 4. I was crossing at the right turning lane on Walford. You slammed on your brakes and skidded to a stop when I was already midway across.

The squealing wheels and sliding literally scared me stiff. I was subconsciously preparing myself for impact.

Only you know why you didn’t see me start to cross from way back down Walford. I should have been directly in your line of vision. Only you know what you were doing or where you were looking instead of in the direction your car was heading.

I would only have been seriously injured. My guide dog, however, would have been killed. He’s a dog who has been chosen for his special abilities to be trained for a career of service as guide to someone who is blind.

It’s bad enough most Sudbury drivers don’t respect the white lines at intersections or yield to pedestrians at crossings. God knows that the city can’t even clear the snow at them for us. But I digress.

At the speed most of you go, how do you have time to think of what you’re doing? But a service dog. I was helpless to protect him.

I am eternally grateful that he was not taken from me that day. We’ve reconquered that crossing, so fear didn’t get us. But we’re just that much less trusting as we venture out each day now.

I hope you’ve learned your lesson. I hope you share your experience with others. I hope every driver who reads this learns to respect the privilege they have and the rest of us who share the roads.

Dorothy Moorcroft
Greater Sudbury