By Kirsty Ross
MARIBYRNONG City Council could erect pedestrian barriers in Nicholson St after the death of a man last week if the coroner investigating the freak accident so recommends.
The council will act on findings of the coroner’s report at a later date, but has no immediate plans to review pedestrian safety.
Mayor Michael Clarke described the death of Sang-Hung Ha last Tuesday at a Footscray shopping strip as an “absolute freak accident”.
Cr Clarke said it appeared that the woman driver of the car hit the accelerator rather than the brake.
The 41-year-old from Glen Waverley died while drinking coffee during his lunch break at Cafe D’Afrique when a car reversed from a car park opposite, ploughing into diners sitting at tables on the footpath.
The Korean-born father of two was with colleagues from his nearby Albert St business, Ceragem Centre – one of four massage therapy franchises he co-owned.
Mr Ha is believed to have died instantly when he was crushed against the cafe’s glass window.
Other patrons managed to jump clear of the vehicle’s path. Three other patrons were injured and taken to hospital.
Police believe the 32-year-old woman driver of the Mitsubishi Magna panicked when she hit the kerb, and rather than braking, accelerated.
She was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said investigating members were still collecting statements and had not interviewed or formally charged the Flemington woman.
Two children in the car with the woman were uninjured and taken into care while the woman was examined.
One witness, who did not want to be named, said the driver went “flat out straight over the gutter” causing an incredibly loud noise.
“It wouldn’t have happened if there were safety barriers,” he said.
Large crowds gathered after the accident while SES crew cordoned off the scene and detectives gathered evidence over several hours.
Ian Butterworth, the council’s transport and special projects manager, said it would be impractical and very expensive to erect safety barriers around all streets and paths to curb further incidents.
Mr Butterworth said it would also create problems for pedestrians getting to their cars from the footpaths.
He said the precinct was designed 10 years ago by an outside consultant and did not know whether the original plans called for pedestrian barriers.
Cr Clarke said the actual layout of narrow Nicholson St was very “calming of traffic”.
“Cars fundamentally move very slowly,” he said.
“It’s worked well for the last 10 years, we’ve had no major accidents ever before.”
He said he thought the idea of erection barriers was “a little concerning” because of their potential to become projectile if hit with speed.
“The whole thing will be investigated by the coroner and we will work with them. It’s still very early days but we will act on whatever the coroner recommends.”
Maribyrnong Council this month will decide on tenders, submitted late last year, to redesign the Nicholson St Mall and improve the busy intersection of Hopkins, Droop and Barkly Sts.
Improvements include encouraging activity and vibrancy within Footscray’s central business district and making Nicholson St more useful and attractive to pedestrians.
It also aims to promote walking and reducing reliance on cars, as well as increase safety.
