Our personal tragedy unfolded when our son, Shawn, was killed in a hit-and-run accident while walking home on an overpass less than a mile from our home. On June 15th he was walking on Walerga Road when he was hit on the overpass between Oakhallow and Kirkby. He succumbed to his injuries and passed on June 20th. Shawn was only 18. He was a quiet soul with a caring heart. Shawn was just beginning to find his way and his life was tragically cut short by something that could have been prevented. His loss unveiled grave issues with overpass safety in our neighborhood that demand our immediate attention. 

The overpass Shawn was on is frequently used by various community members, including women pushing babies in strollers, kids walking to school, and families out for a bike ride. It is the only way in and out of our neighborhood for those on foot or bike, without having to go miles out of your way. It currently presents multiple safety risks, specifically in that it lacks a designated pedestrian walkway, designated bike lanes, adequate lighting during the night, functioning traffic cameras and proper signage to alert motorists of pedestrian presence. My stepson's accident was not an unfortunate outlier; there have been other deaths and injuries in the area. Nobody else should have to die.  

In the Greater Sacramento area, pedestrians made up 20% of all road-related fatalities in 2019, a figure that clearly indicates the urgency of this issue (Sacramento Transportation Authority, 2019). The perils pedestrians face in our community have been too often ignored, leading to reoccurring senseless tragedies.

We urge city officials to prioritize pedestrian safety by installing proper safety measures. A pedestrian walkway, improved lighting, visible signage and functioning traffic cameras MUST be implemented on the overpass. We can no longer stand by as lives are lost. To prevent further devastating incidents, we demand immediate action. 

Please sign this petition to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in our community, and to prevent other families from enduring the grief that comes with preventable loss.