After a hit-and-run left a 12-year-old Calgary boy injured, community members rallied around his family while renewing concerns about dangerous driving in the city.
Earlier this month, Bentley St John was walking to school in a marked crosswalk when he was struck by a white four-door sedan.
He broke three bones in his leg, according to his family.
CCTV video captured the whole incident.
St. John lay injured on the road as several vehicles passed without stopping.
His sister, Jaden Jacobson, said he’s angry because the driver left the scene.
Community rallies behind family
“All this anger comes from the fact that there’s no humanity in the situation and they just kind of drove off and left him there,” Jacobson said.
Kerri Workman, a member of the Facebook group Calgary and Area Costco Fans, says she learned about the incident through social media and later visited the family.
“The visit exceeded my expectations because the family were so welcoming to have me in the home as a stranger, and Bentley himself is just so kind and caring and sweet,” said Workman.
Concerns grow over dangerous driving
The incident sparked discussion in the community, with many residents raising concerns about road safety.
Some community members speculate distracted driving may have been a factor, although police have not confirmed a cause.
“People need to keep off their phones and really be paying attention around school zones. There’s way too much distraction going on,” said Workman.
She said seeing vehicles pass the boy on the road shows a lack of goodwill in the community.
“We need to find our compassion, our kindness and our empathy for others, somewhere, somehow. There’s gotta be more good than evil.”
Despite that, members of the Facebook group quickly organized support for the family.
Jan McKnight says she heard about the collision on the news and launched a greeting card campaign for St John to show the family support.
She said she received hundreds of messages from people wanting to send well wishes.
“This cannot be his story. We have to overwrite this,” said McKnight.
Jacobson said the response has helped St John feel supported.
“It’s just really shown him that community does exist, and he’s been really enjoying the love and the support and everyone who’s been trying to take a stand for him,” she said.
McKnight said the collision reflects a broader fear many Calgarians feel about traffic safety.
“I’m seeing accidents and death on the road at an increasing rate. It is very alarming,” said McKnight. “Slow down. Look around, pay attention, because we’re all in a hurry, everybody’s busy, but children are being hurt.”
City data highlights ongoing risks
Calgary has already recorded more than 80 pedestrian-involved collisions in 2026, adding to concerns about road safety across the city.
The concern comes as Alberta increased fines for several traffic offences on March 13, including distracted driving and excessive speeding, with some penalties rising by up to 50 per cent.
The collision also comes as the City of Calgary and Calgary Police Service continue their Safety in Motion plan, a joint strategy aimed at reducing major injury and fatal collisions by 25 per cent through enforcement, road design, education, and community engagement.
The plan follows the Vision Zero approach, treating traffic deaths and serious injuries as preventable and sets a long-term goal of eliminating them.
Still, the City of Calgary reported that 15 pedestrians died in traffic collisions in 2025.
This is up 225 per cent since 2024 and highlights the ongoing challenge of making city roads safer for pedestians.
Police continue to investigate the incident and ask anyone with information to contact them.