Ghost shoes mark pedestrian's death at Parc Avenue intersection

A pair of white shoes have been hung at the intersection of Parc Avenue and Duluth to commemorate a pedestrian killed there while crossing the street.

Concepcin Cortacans was struck by an SUV that ran a red light on Jan. 7. She died six days later. A police investigation is ongoing.

"It was unbelievable," said Cortacans's husband, Andre Benyamin. "I'm very mad at the drivers that are driving like this, so crazily and inconsiderate."

A group of citizens and politicians gathered at the intersection Tuesday morning to hang the pair of white "ghost shoes."

In the past, bicyclespainted white, called"ghost bicycles,"have been hung at locations in Montreal where cyclists have been killed by motorists.

• Bernard Carignan remembered in ghost bike ceremony

• Salim Aoudia, cyclist killed in Griffintown, remembered with ghost bike

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Now the measure is being adapted to call for measures to better protect pedestrians.

"Pedestrians are really second-class citizens in the city of Montreal and that has to change," said Alex Norris, a Project Montreal city councillor for the PlateauMont-Royal borough.

Norris estimates that an average ofone pedestrian is struck by a vehicle everyday in the borough.

The Parc/Duluth intersection is among the more precarious in the city for pedestrians, with three lanes of traffic in either direction. Norris compared it to an "autoroute."

Benyamin recalled how he and his wife often frequented the adjoining parks, always taking care to obey the traffic lights.

"We respected all the rules and regulations of the streets," he said. "To see such a lovely and lively woman lose her life at such an early age, it's shocking."