'I am suffering': B.C. hit-and-run victim pleads for driver to come forward

A hospitalized Burnaby, B.C., woman is asking the hit-and-run driver who put her there to come forward.

On Dec. 11 just before 6:45 a.m., Maria Espedido was crossing the road at Canada Way and Burris Street, when she was struck by a vehicle whose driver did not remain on scene.

Dash-cam video shows the terrifying moment she was hit. Espedido, who suffered serious injuries including a fractured right arm and seven broken ribs, is still visibly shaken by the incident.

“I am suffering too much,” she said from her room at Royal Columbian Hospital.

Appeal to public

Burnaby RCMP say they are in possession of dash-cam video showing the crash, but haven’t been able to identify the vehicle or its driver, and are asking anyone with information to call the detachment.

On Wednesday, Cpl. Mike Kalanj told CTV News, the department’s criminal collision investigation team would be taking over.

Kalanj added December’s dark, rainy weather is contributing to unsafe driving conditions.

“Last night alone in the city of Burnaby, we had three pedestrians hit,” he said. “This time of year, we have darkness for two thirds of the day, the rain doesn't help us.”

According to data from ICBC, between Jan. 1, 2019 and April 1, 2023, there were 272 crashes at Canada Way and Burris Street.

Traffic-calming infrastructure

Lucy Maloney, a traffic safety advocate with Vision Zero Vancouver, said there’s a need for greater traffic-calming measures, such as speed and red-light cameras.

“The reason we see so many deaths and injuries on our roads is a combination of factors,” she said. “We know we’ve got many tools in our toolbox to reduce deaths and injuries and they’re not being implemented.”

Maloney said it’s common for crashes like the one Espedido was involved in to occur early in the morning before traffic has reached its peak.

“One of the most dangerous times for pedestrians and cyclists on the road is when traffic is light because heavy traffic works to slow down drivers,” she said.

“We’re not seeing more implementation of speed and red light cameras, so we need drivers to be prompted – when the roads are designed for speed and convenience for drivers – to slow down and be concerned they might get a ticket in the mail.”

'This is very devastating'

Espedido works as a caregiver for an elderly woman with dementia.

She said she’s worried she may no longer be able to care for the 86-year-old due to the extent of her injuries.

“I feel emotional about that,” she said.

Rachelle Grace, Espedido’s employer, said the 64-year-old was on her way to her second job when the incident occurred.

“She works seven days a week. Tirelessly,” Grace said. “So this is very devastating.”

Grace and her sister have started a GoFundMe to help raise funds for Espedido and her family.

While the 64-year-old remains focused on her healing, Espedido is pleading with the driver to do the right thing.

“I am always praying that the driver (who) hit me (will) come forward and co-operate,” she said.