Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Feb 18/02) - After a pickup truck hit a kindergarten student outside Joamie school on Wednesday morning, school staff, city council and the acting fire chief are calling for increased safety measures.

The boy was taken to hospital and released with no injuries. Fears that a more serious accident is inevitable, however, are widespread.

Vice-principal Jacqui Bishop said last week that children coming from nearby Ivavik apartments aren't using the crosswalk because it's too far away. Moving the crosswalk closer or adding a second crossing would help, she said.

The school is also recruiting volunteer crossing guards and talking to students about safety.

Acting fire chief Cory Chegwyn said the child was hit by a vehicle driving directly into the sun in a haze of exhaust.

"It was almost like driving through fog with a bright light shining into your eyes," he said at the Feb. 13 council meeting.

Wednesday's was at least the seventh car accident involving a pedestrian in 2002. "To my recollection, that's the first school incident and hopefully the last," he added.

"We get a little complacent up here because traffic isn't as fast or as much compared to the South. But it's still an issue."