JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Friday, in downtown Jacksonville, city leaders hosted the city’s first World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
Safety advocates, city officials and families of victims killed in traffic accidents came together to share stories about their loved ones and talk about the importance of traffic safety.
508 white flags could be seen flying in the James Weldon Park to represent the number of the people who died on Jacksonville roadways in the last three years.
Teresa Rose rode her bike 60 miles from St. Augustine to downtown Jacksonville Friday morning to be here for her friend Katie. "It’s been 4 years now and it’s hard to believe she’s gone," she said.
On October 20, 2020 Katie was hit by a truck while riding her bike. Rose continues to remember her by doing what they both love.
“I keep a picture of Katie with me in my wallet so she can come with me on rides,” said Rose. "Katie wanted to ride her first century ride on her birthday and I planned a 100 mile route today, and I've ridden about 60 of it. I'll ride back from here to St. Augustine and have the 100 mile ride.”
Drew Haramis’s 15-year-old daughter Allison died in a car accident on April 2009. “It's hard to believe we’ve been without our precious Allison for 15 years,” he said.
Since her daughter’s passing, the Haramis family started the ‘Angels for Allison’ foundation. A nonprofit organization that helps cover funeral costs for families who lost their children.
They’ve covered over $1 million in funeral assistance for 1,200 families.
"It honestly still takes my breath away, and it was over 15 years ago. I don’t even know how to describe it, and I think that’s why I have compassion for these families, because it’s a feeling I’ll never forget,” she said.
Just six months ago, Gavin Carter was hit and killed after stopping to help a driver on I-10. Today, his family is still grieving his loss and wanting justice served.
“Gavin did matter, Gavin was doing the right thing and this person took a very good man from this world,” said Dawn Carter, Gavin’s mom. "Justice will come, it will come, but until then I want my son to stay relevant.”
“I feel like what happened to Katie and what happened to Allison and all of the other people who have been killed didn’t have to happen, but we can make positive change in the future,” Rose said.
Transportation officials discussed initiatives they are working on to make streets safer.