JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — This year, 133 people have lost their lives on Duval County roadways so far, and city and transportation officials will hold a first-ever event to honor victims killed in traffic crashes.
The Jacksonville Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) will host the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims event Friday afternoon at James Weldon Johnson Park. City leaders, the families of traffic crash victims, street safety advocates and transportation planners are welcome to attend.
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims recognizes the 1.35 million people killed on roads around the world each year. It's meant to highlight the need for changes to address and prevent more traffic-related deaths while also honoring the lives lost to traffic violence.
Duval County recorded 508 traffic crash deaths between 2021 and 2023, with nearly 30% of the deaths being pedestrians or bicyclists, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Here locally, the City of Jacksonville is already working to implement its first-ever 'Vision Zero Action Plan' designed to eliminate all traffic fatalities by 2035.
Transportation officials want to use proactive ways to make roads safer, like identifying the most dangerous intersections, improving crosswalks and bike lanes and gathering community feedback. They are also calling for the city to implement speed cameras in every Jacksonville school zone by the end of 2025.
In the United States alone, traffic crashes killed 40,990 people, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That number isn't far off from the number of gun-related deaths recorded last year.
Jacksonville is ranked 15th most dangerous metropolitan area for pedestrians in the country and third-most dangerous for bicyclists, according to city officials.
Redesigning streets and lowering speed limits are just a few ways officials are urging local leaders to change roadway conditions to help save lives. They believe that all traffic deaths and serious injuries are preventable.
"We understand humans are going to make mistakes, so you can't completely get rid of all crashes," City of Jacksonville Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Matt Fall told First Coast News when the city unveiled its 'Vision Zero Action Plan.' "When crashes do occur, you want them to happen at a reasonable speed, so the person might be bruised or break something, but at least they’re going home at the end of the day."
The event is co-hosted by the Jacksonville Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the City of Jacksonville Transportation Division, the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization and Angels for Allison.
The event is scheduled for Friday at noon.
Remembering the victims
First Coast News has spoken with the families of some of the victims killed in Duval County crashes this year.
Drew Kohn
Drew Kohn, who was killed while walking home along Collins Road in July, defied all odds after he survived a motorcycle crash years earlier. Doctors told Kohn's family he would never walk or talk again, but after a 244-day coma, he woke up.
First Coast News followed Kohn's miraculous recovery as he overcame obstacle after obstacle, and ultimately relearned how to walk again. Seven years after the motorcycle crash, Kohn was stuck and killed. The driver fled and has not yet been caught. Police continue to search for the person responsible.
Marquite Scurry
Marquite Scurry was a USPS employee and mother of five. She died after a crash while driving a mail truck in February on the Westside.
Family members described Scurry as a "loving" and "caring" mother who was a hard worker. She loved to bake and cook.
Alaysha Williams
Alaysha Williams was a senior who played on the Edward H. White High School girls basketball team and flag football team. She was the starting point guard for the Commanders and served as captain of the team. Williams was credited with helping the Commanders win the Gateway Conference flag football championship when she made the only score in the game against the Fletcher Senators.
Williams was crossing Blanding Boulevard in late September when she was struck by three vehicles. One of the vehicles fled the scene. She was taken to the hospital where she died days later. Police arrested Karlotta Dowdy, who they say drove the second vehicle that struck Williams, but was the only driver who did not stop after the crash.
Robbie Roberts
Robbie Roberts was a Jacksonville Air Force veteran. She was struck by two cars while crossing Lenox Avenue and Normandy Boulevard in October. Roberts died after a week on life support, and two days after her 54th birthday. The first driver fled the scene.
Now, Roberts' family continues to plead for justice in their loved one's death.
"She was a blissful, infectious, butterfly full of life…that was Robbie," Renee Williams, Roberts' sister told First Coast News.
Kameron Turner
Kameron Turner was struck by a car on Kings Road while walking with his brother to school in April. He died days later. Loved ones said Kameron was always playing basketball and would hang out at Ryder Park with his older brother Jaiyon Halie shooting hoops.
"I just cried so much I couldn't cry no more," Halie told First Coast News.
Kameron's family said his heart was donated to another child in need.
Gabe Di Spirito
Gabe Di Spirito died after a motorcycle crash on Beach Boulevard in October. He was on the way to meet his parents for dinner and crashed just blocks away. The crash left two motorcyclists, including Di Spirito, dead and two others injured.
Di Spirito's parents told First Coast News his older brother also died in a motorcycle crash just years earlier, and urged drivers to be careful.
"You see someone you let them pass and then you make the turn. This should have never happened. Never happened," Belinda Di Spirito told First Coast News.
Linda Cordray
Linda Cordray was a grandmother, wife and friend, loved ones told First Coast News. Cordray was hit and killed in March by a car while trying to help two injured dogs lying on the road after they were hit by a car.
Sadly, the dogs Cordray tried to save died. Her family described her as someone with an infectious smile who was dedicated to helping all living things.
Gavin Carter
Gavin Carter was a beloved son, brother and fiancé. Family members described him as upbeat and talented, and never let hard times get him down. Carter was struck and killed after he stopped to help a driver who crashed along I-10 west of McDuff Avenue in May. Officials recognized Carter as a Good Samaritan.
"He was taken from us in a tragic way. The only solace I can take is that Gavin died the way he lived being a good man, doing the right thing," Dawn Carter, Gavin's mother told First Coast News.
The driver that hit Carter crashed into a concrete barrier wall and fled the area on foot, officials said. No arrests have been made.