A MAN hospitalised after being hit by a car while using a pedestrian crossing in Bendigo believes traffic lights would make the stretch of road less hazardous. James Cassar was walking across Mitchell Street, starting his journey home from work, when he was struck. The crossing he was using is near a busy roundabout at the intersection with Mollison Street. Mr Cassar has been in the Royal Melbourne Hospital since Monday night, when the crash happened. He sustained a skull fracture and a brain bleed. "I just remember a white car approaching my head, then nothing for two days," he said. Mr Cassar has had concerns about the intersection's safety for some time. "There have been too many near miss vehicle and pedestrian accidents already, and I have witnessed two vehicle accidents as well," he said. "Lights would definitely control the intersection rather than a roundabout, given the current traffic volume." The 54-year-old said the intersection had grown very busy in the couple of years he'd been working in the area. Mr Cassar believed that was partially due to the nearby Bendigo Station and Bendigo Marketplace, as well as an increase in people working in town. "We see near misses all the time and I personally have had many," he said. "I just happened to not get out of the way this time." He believed two off-duty nurses were among those who stopped to help him, after the crash. "I would have liked to thank them for helping me," Mr Cassar said. He has many questions about what happened. The biggest one is why - why was he hit? "I want to know why I am suffering and was almost killed," Mr Cassar said. Police said it was dark and raining at the time of the collision, and the intersection was not particularly well lit. The driver of the vehicle was issued a penalty notice for failing to give way. Police said the driver stopped and rendered assistance. Mr Cassar expected fully recovering from his injuries would take a long time. "I am in a great deal of pain but improving daily," he said. He had just been given the all-clear to head home on Sunday morning. "I hope your article makes people, both drivers and pedestrians, more mindful at intersections and helps have the whole intersection upgraded," Mr Cassar said. Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
'Too many near misses': Injured man calls for intersection upgrade
James Cassar sustained a skull fracture and a brain bleed after being hit by a car while using a pedestrian crossing on his way home. Picture: FACEBOOK
James Cassar is hopeful sharing his story makes people, both drivers and pedestrians, more mindful at intersections and helps have the intersection where he was hit upgraded. Picture: SUPPLIED
A MAN hospitalised after being hit by a car while using a pedestrian crossing in Bendigo believes traffic lights would make the stretch of road less hazardous.
James Cassar was walking across Mitchell Street, starting his journey home from work, when he was struck.
The crossing he was using is near a busy roundabout at the intersection with Mollison Street.
Mr Cassar has been in the Royal Melbourne Hospital since Monday night, when the crash happened. He sustained a skull fracture and a brain bleed.
"I just remember a white car approaching my head, then nothing for two days," he said.
Mr Cassar has had concerns about the intersection's safety for some time.
"There have been too many near miss vehicle and pedestrian accidents already, and I have witnessed two vehicle accidents as well," he said.
"Lights would definitely control the intersection rather than a roundabout, given the current traffic volume."
The 54-year-old said the intersection had grown very busy in the couple of years he'd been working in the area.
Mr Cassar believed that was partially due to the nearby Bendigo Station and Bendigo Marketplace, as well as an increase in people working in town.
"We see near misses all the time and I personally have had many," he said.
"I just happened to not get out of the way this time."
He believed two off-duty nurses were among those who stopped to help him, after the crash.
"I would have liked to thank them for helping me," Mr Cassar said.
He has many questions about what happened. The biggest one is why - why was he hit?
"I want to know why I am suffering and was almost killed," Mr Cassar said.
The driver of the vehicle was issued a penalty notice for failing to give way. Police said the driver stopped and rendered assistance.
Mr Cassar expected fully recovering from his injuries would take a long time.
"I am in a great deal of pain but improving daily," he said.
He had just been given the all-clear to head home on Sunday morning.
"I hope your article makes people, both drivers and pedestrians, more mindful at intersections and helps have the whole intersection upgraded," Mr Cassar said.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
