On July 20, 2025, Chloe and Sammy were celebrating their college graduation on Water Street in downtown Milwaukee—a moment of joy, hope, and anticipation for the future. That night, their lives changed forever when a reckless, high-speed driver crashed through barricades, striking both girls.

The driver operated a vehicle without a license, without insurance, and with a car that should never have been on the road. Despite this grave violation, they received nothing more than a citation.

Chloe and Sammy suffered life-altering injuries. Their families are left reeling, trying to navigate a future that has been unjustly reshaped. This is not justice.

We are calling on the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office and Wisconsin state legislators to take immediate action. We want to see a commitment to real changes with actual follow through from the city and state, not just promises. We ask for a thorough review of the below considerations to improve the safety on a street that has heavy foot traffic:

🔎 Reopen and Thoroughly Review the Case: A fair reassessment is essential, not only for Chloe and Sammy, but to uphold the values of justice, transparency, and integrity we expect from our institutions.

🚫 Enforce Accountability for Unlicensed, Uninsured Drivers: Drivers who choose to violate basic laws and endanger lives must face consequences that reflect the seriousness of their actions.

⚖️ Recognize This as Gross Negligence: Operating a vehicle under these conditions and causing critical injury is not a traffic offense—it’s a disregard for human life.

🚷 Improve Pedestrian Safety Measures: Water Street must be made safer so no more families face the same tragedy. We are asking for street design changes not only visual changes, but physical upgrades to make it harder for drivers to speed or ignore the safety precautions:
Reinforced Pedestrian Modular Barriers
Real barriers that can’t be easily moved or driven through, especially during nightlife hours.
Raised Crosswalks
Elevate the crosswalk like a speed bump to forces drivers to slow down and makes pedestrians more visible.
Curb Extensions 
Extends the sidewalk into the road at intersections, reducing crossing distance and forcing slower turns.
Speed Humps
Install mid-block humps on the roadway to reduce speeding in areas where people walk at night.
Pedestrian Only Zones During Peak Hours
Limit or ban cars on streets like Water Street during high foot traffic times — late night weekends, for example.
Lighting Upgrades
Add Brighter, more targeted lighting at crosswalks, corners and side streets for better visibility.

Chloe and Sammy are not statistics. They are daughters, friends, and vibrant members of our community who were on the cusp of building purposeful, joyful lives. We are speaking up for Chloe, for Sam, and for every person’s safety. We must do better.

Let this moment be a turning point—a commitment to safety, justice, and respect for human life. Stand with us. Sign this petition and help protect pedestrians across Wisconsin.