HARTFORD, Conn — Connecticut and the world on Sunday marked World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
Those who have lost loved ones gathered at Bushnell Park to honor them.
“He’s right here. He’s happy that we’re doing this in his name. He’s happy that there will be fewer and fewer deaths on our roads,” said Judy Proctor.
Here in spirit, his mom fights for a cause in his honor.
Judy Proctor lost her son Charlie three and a half years ago. Charlie was riding his bike when he was killed by a car ten minutes from his home in Somerville, Massachusetts.
The agony of her loss pushed her to plan the first statewide World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims here in Connecticut.
"It’s powerful for us to honor those who have lost, those we’ve lost,” said Proctor.
She took solace from the outpouring of support from people who showed up to honor those who they’ve lost.
People like Denise Fernandez who lost her future sister-in-law in a hit-and-run on July 4th, 2020.
“She had just taken the dog for a small walk. She was on my property and a pick-up truck hit her from behind. She never saw him coming,” said Fernandez.
Each flag planted in the ground represents a person who has been killed on Connecticut roads so far in 2023.
The red ones are for those pedestrians or bicyclists who lost their lives.
According to the State Department of Transportation, there have been 288 traffic deaths so far this year: 5 bicyclists. 51 pedestrians. The latest fatal hit-and-run was just last week.
“The loss of someone under those circumstances never goes away. So, it allows for us to help each other,” said Fernandez.
The call to action for this day is more awareness for families and things like Vision Zero legislation, a strategy that’s been successful in Europe to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.
“We have passed some great legislation recently and we ask that it is implemented on all levels across the government and through each town and municipality to make our roads safer and slow down cars so that more people get home at the end of the day,” said Amy Watkins, Program Specialist for Watch For Me CT.
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