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The grieving widower of a woman who died in a collision with a cement truck while cycling near the University of Saskatchewan made a passionate and tearful address to city council Wednesday.
With his two sons by his side, Tod Fox described some of his last memories of his wife, Natasha, as he called for action to improve safety.
“On May 24, 8:10 a.m., I kissed my wife goodbye for the last time. I said ‘I love you’ for the last time as she rode away to her school,” he recalled.
Natasha Fox, 33, was a teacher, mother and world-class wrestler. Her children, who were riding behind her at the intersection of Wiggins Avenue and College Drive, were not injured.
With his voice breaking at times, Tod accused councillors of delaying important cycling and pedestrian safety-related decisions specifically around the University of Saskatchewan.
“I’m here today not because I want to be. I’m here today because I feel I need to be. I’m here to make sure you know we can damn well do better,” he cried.
“The city knew there was a chance somebody might be seriously injured in that intersection, and now Natasha’s dead.”
Saskatoon Cycles’ Gordon Holtslander echoed Tod’s concerns, and explained that motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians and now e-scooter riders are all being “jammed” into a funnel that’s not equipped to handle all the traffic, and the city has known that for years.
“I would argue that what happened on May 24 was not an accident. An accident is something that you cannot foresee. An accident is something that happens unexpectedly. It was not an accident. That was waiting to happen,” he said.
During the city’s last council meeting on June 1, Coun. Cynthia Block proposed a motion in four parts, calling for third-party road safety audits, including one at the intersection where Fox died. She also called for funds to be reallocated to transportation to complete a road safety audit at that same intersection.
Block asked administration to provide council with an active transportation plan update, including the status of any connections bound by College Drive, which includes Clarence Avenue, Preston Avenue and 12th Street.
Coun. Hilary Gough offered “friendly amendments” to the motions, which were unanimously approved.
Gough also became emotional while addressing the room.
“Every one of us who chooses to ride a bike in this city has people who worry about us every day, and who call us the moment they see a news release saying that there was an incident between somebody riding a bike and somebody in a car,” she said through tears.
“Council is the only body who can show leadership in this city to say, ‘It’s time to do it now, and it’s time to do it correctly.’ ”
While Tod said he supported the motions and council’s direction, he was still very angry, calling the action “meaningless” to him after he’s already suffered a loss.
“They won’t bring her back. They won’t stop the pain or anger I feel. They won’t bring back Stacey’s or Nasa’s mother,” he said.
Saskatoon police said charges against the driver of the cement truck aren’t anticipated. Police said collision analysts are also looking at the mechanical fitness of the truck, and still piecing together exactly what happened.