Vigil on Harry Lazarenko Bridge for woman fatally struck by vehicle set for Friday evening

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This article was published 30/08/2024 (402 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Family members of the woman who was struck and killed on the Harry Lazarenko Bridge earlier this month are planning to shut down the span for a vigil Friday evening.

Police believe Doris Porter, 49, was lying on the bridge when she was hit by a westbound vehicle and died before paramedics arrived.

“We’ll be shutting down the bridge on both ends in hopes to have a full investigation done in regards to her cause of death,” an email sent to media Wednesday night stated.

The bridge, between Main Street to the west and Glenwood Crescent to the east, goes over the Red River and connects the North End and Glenelm areas through Redwood and Hespeler avenues.

The vigil is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

A Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson said police would be present at the vigil but could not provide any updates on the investigation.

Police were sent to the span, formerly named the Redwood Bridge, at about 1:45 a.m. on Aug. 10.

The WPS spokesperson did not say whether the driver, who remained at the scene, is facing any charges.

Family members have publicly identified Porter as the woman killed, but police have not. She was one of three people hit by vehicles on Winnipeg streets the weekend of the incident. Two of those people died, and the other was transported to hospital in critical condition.

A pedestrian died in hospital after he was hit by a vehicle in the area of Pembina Highway at Adamar Road at about 4 a.m. on Aug. 10. The driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene and spoke with police.

Police said that weekend that the 28-year-old man was walking east across Pembina near the intersection when he was hit by an eastbound vehicle.

The previous night, at about 9:45 p.m. on Aug. 9, police were sent to Main Street and Smithfield Avenue after a 57-year-old man was struck by a southbound vehicle. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

Investigators believe the man was crossing Main against a red light. The driver stayed at the scene.

At the time, the WPS asked anyone with more information about the collisions, including video from the areas near the collision scenes, to call its traffic division at 204-986-7085 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS).

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca