On Thursday, March 16th, 2023 at 1:30pm, a 75-year-old father, grandfather, husband, son, and brother was struck and killed while crossing the northbound Columbia Pike/US29 in the direction of Milestone Dr. Teklu Bushen Siba died at the scene due to brain and spinal injury after being struck by SUV Ford Explorer. Teklu lived in Victory Crossing Senior Apartments as a retiree with his beloved wife of 43 years. He survived by his three daughters, a son in-law and three grandchildren.

The tragic accident still feels like a dream. Our family is experiencing unbearable pain and grief due to the tragic loss of our father. Our family is left to not only deal with our father’s death but also endure the agony and imagination of how we lost him.

Crossing Old Columbia Pike at Stewart Lane poses a greater risk for seniors’ citizens like our father. Unfortunately, our father has become a statistic of death from unsafe roads. According to Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass, our father is the third person who died from pedestrian fatality on Columbia Pike/US29  in the past three months. Some residents  who live at Victory Crossing Senior Apartments have mobility issues and 50% of the residents do not drive including my mother who still lives there. We do not want any family to endure the pain of losing loved ones due to unsafe roads. Thus, family of Teklu Bushen Siba are pleading and demanding State Highway Administration and Montgomery County Department of Transportationt

SHA

Extending the time on the north leg crosswalk at US29 and Stewart (resolving asap)

South leg crosswalk at US29 and Stewart (ultimate condition)

Southbound US29 at Stewart no turn on red and/or yield to pedestrian signage; please explore any other short-term safety solutions for this crossing (west side of intersection)

Northbound US29 left arrow to turn onto Stewart isn’t long enough and people speed through if they see a gap

Trimming foliage on northbound New Hampshire Avenue

Repainting crosswalk markings crossing New Hampshire at Heartfields Drive/Quaint Acres Drive

MCDOT:

Discontinuity in the sidewalk at Milestone and New Hampshire 

Sidewalk along Milestone to get to Stewart

Side street crosswalk, crossing Stewart on the west side of the intersection

Streetlights along Sherbrooke Woods Lane