Ron Sizer often watches the cars whiz by from the deck of his Coquitlam home.

Unfortunately, it's not the front row to an Indy race.

Sizer and his family live along David Avenue, and more times than he'd like to see, cars and trucks are speeding and running stop signs along the stretch of residential road.

"It's an accident waiting to happen," Sizer told The NOW, adding it's not uncommon to see cars doing 80 km/h in the 50 km/h zone.

So he wasn't surprised to see emergency crews in his neighbourhood Tuesday night dealing with a near-fatal collision.

A cyclist was airlifted to hospital with critical injuries after being struck by a car in a crosswalk on David Avenue.

The crash happened just before 8 p.m. while an older man was crossing the road with a group of cyclists between Lansdowne and Noons Creek drives.

Coquitlam RCMP said the man was hit by a westbound car and sent flying into the air.

It's the kind of incident Sizer has been predicting for years.

"I've got an eight-year-old daughter, and I'm worried about her - she has a lot of energy and she runs," he said.

Sizer said he's phoned the police and asked them to do some traffic enforcement in the area, but didn't get much of a response.

That particular crosswalk was the scene of a similar incident just two months ago, according to Coquitlam Mounties.

Now Sizer is renewing his calls for traffic calming measures along both David and Panorama Drive, or some kind of enforcement along the roads.

And he predicts the dangers will increase as David is widened to three lanes.

He wants a message to be sent to drivers to slow down and obey the rules of the road.

"Someone has to die before they do something," Sizer said.

"I don't want people to get killed."

City of Coquitlam officials said they're aware of the two crashes and have plans to upgrade the crosswalk as part of a larger road improvement project along David.

The city intends to install a pedestrian-controlled light at the crosswalk.

That project is out to tender and won't likely be complete until the fall.

In the meantime, the city also plans to install a sign leading to the crosswalk highlighting the need for extra caution on the part of cyclists and pedestrians.

The stretch of David will also be getting a multi-use path on the south side as part of the overall project.

Dan Mooney, manager of roads and traffic operations for the City of Coquitlam, noted mid-block crossings tend to require more attention from pedestrian and driver alike.

"We're concerned about the two most recent accidents," he said, adding the crosswalk was not known to be a problem prior to the two incidents.

Mooney said the hope is the new measures will help stop similar crashes in the future.

As for the collision, police are investigating and note alcohol was not a factor, but the car's mechanics are being examined along with the speed of the vehicle.

RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung said investigators surmise the driver might have been blinded by the setting sun.

"He basically just kept going and hit one of the pedestrians with a bicycle," he said, noting a car heading east had stopped at the crosswalk at the time.

Chung also noted the driver, who was described as young, remained at the scene and no charges have been laid at this point.

But the incident has police reminding pedestrians to be careful when using a crosswalk, recommending eye contact with the driver before stepping out into the road.

"To know that he or she is slowing down for you before you cross the road - even when you're in a crosswalk - just for your own safety," Chung said.

Mounties would also like to speak to a doctor who administered first aid to the victim, but left the scene before investigators could get a name.

This person is asked to call the local detachment at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2012-20949.

jdeutsch@thenownews.com