*Zachariah was killed by his classmates’ parent who was running from a minor accident that happened at the school moments before. His killer (Edgardo Rosado Perez) hit Zach hard enough to put a hole in his windshield and scatter debris from his car several feet down the road. He killed my brother in cold blood, Zachariah was the same age as his daughter and he just left him in someone’s yard. Never once did Perez stop his vehicle nor did he check on my brother. Instead he drove home, exchanged cars and drove 30 miles to Brandon mall as if nothing happened. 

This was a parent… a parent who stole a child from his mother. A parent who stole a brother from his many siblings. A parent who stole an uncle. A parent who stole a friend. A parent who stole a future… 

Zachariah’s death sat with a lot of people in this community, yet drivers are still speeding down Jackson and running the stop signs. He has a beautiful memorial at one stop sign and people still decide to be reckless. People don’t want to slow down willingly, that’s why I propose speed bumps*

On March 27th 2024, my brother Zachariah was walking along S. Jackson Ave when his life was abruptly ended by a reckless driver while walking to school. With no sidewalks to provide safety, he had to choose between walking in the road, navigating uneven grassy terrain or crossing the street. He chose the latter option and while doing so, a speeding driver ignored a stop sign and struck him down.

S. Jackson Ave and its surrounding streets are frequented by many pedestrians daily due to their proximity to local schools. The lack of sidewalks forces pedestrians into potentially dangerous situations similar to what my brother faced that fateful day.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrian fatalities account for 17% of all traffic fatalities in America with over 6,000 deaths annually - an alarming statistic that underscores the urgency of our cause.

We propose installing speed bumps on South Jackson Ave and surrounding streets leading up to schools in Bartow, FL as an immediate measure towards improving pedestrian safety. Speed bumps have been proven effective at reducing vehicle speeds; studies conducted by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show that speed humps reduce collisions involving pedestrians by about 40%.

By signing this petition you are advocating for safer roads for our children, our families, and everyone who walks these paths each day. Join us as we strive towards making our neighborhood safer from reckless driving incidents like what took Zachariah's life too soon.

Please sign this petition today; let's prevent another tragedy from happening on South Jackson Avenue.