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Street safety advocates are organizing a community vigil Thursday for two men who were struck and killed by the driver of an SUV last week in James Monroe Park on Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The driver had come off the avenue late Wednesday and smashed through a number of trees and benches, including one where the two people were reportedly sitting.
The vigil is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. Attendees are asked to wear white, or red if they or someone they know has been “impacted by traffic violence,” according to the organizers. “Nobody should be killed by a driver while sitting on a park bench,” a Facebook post for the event says. The District has seen 14 total traffic deaths so far in 2019, D.C. police data show.
D.C. traffic deaths are down this year compared with this point last year, but they increased from 2015 through 2018 despite Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration overseeing a Vision Zero program to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2024. Last year’s count of 36 traffic deaths reached levels not witnessed since 2008, when there were 39 traffic deaths.
The District Department of Transportation is advancing a redesign of Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 17th and 22nd streets NW, which includes the part where the fatal crash occurred. Six car lanes would be cut to four and sidewalk space would be added, among other efforts.
We’re planning a vigil to honor the memories of the two individuals who were killed while sitting on a park bench last Wednesday. Join us. We need safe streets now. #visionzerodc https://t.co/KGk6SzMmVX
— HandlebarsDC (@HandlebarsDC) July 15, 2019
Please come to Monroe Park (2000 block of Penn Ave NW) on Thursday afternoon at 5:15 to help commemorate the two lives lost in last week's traffic crash and advocate for safer streets. https://t.co/C1SJUkZDD3
— Patrick Kennedy (@PLKDC) July 15, 2019
Last Wed, 2 people were fatally struck while sitting in Monroe Park. A vigil will be held this Thu 7/18 at 5:15pm at 20th & Pennsylvania Ave NW. More info here: https://t.co/FNq8SiC7lV #WalkDC #SafeStreetsDC https://t.co/qNvOdfWAWT
— Christy K (@kwanimal) July 15, 2019
please come to this. https://t.co/rqRwlyFTrd
— Peter Krupa (@peterkrupa) July 15, 2019
If you're in the area https://t.co/T7NlKQiEJr
— Syed Mehdi (@LeftistMehdi) July 15, 2019
Vigil for the 2 people killed in DC last week while sitting on a park bench.
— ACT for Transit (@actfortransit) July 15, 2019
Thursday, July 18, 2019, 5:15-6:15 pm
2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC#VisionZero#VisionZeroDC https://t.co/2fafVg4R0B