ST. LOUIS – An event was held Thursday night to honor victims of tragic hit-and-run accidents in our area.
The group Fighting Hit And Run Driving (H.A.R.D.) hosted the event at the North County Innovation Center to raise awareness and remind people that we all can make a difference in helping to put an end to distracted driving.
The event, dubbed a Day of Remembrance for Families Impacted by Traffic Violence, highlighted stories about families impacted by hit-and-run incidents. Fighting H.A.R.D.’s founder, Tiffanie Stanfield, lost her sister, Jameca, to a hit-and-run incident in 2016.
“She was killed walking in a crosswalk across the street, and a driver was driving 85 miles per hour in a 25-mile per hour zone,” she said.
Stanfield decided to turn her pain into a purpose. Fighting H.A.R.D. pushes for traffic safety improvements, changes to state laws, and provides resources for victims’ families as they begin the process of navigating hit-and-run tragedies. They also recently partnered with the Missouri Coalition of Roadway Safety.
Fellow traffic safety advocate Tom Everson traveled from Omaha for Thursday night’s event. Everson founded a similar group, Keep Kids Alive, Drive 25, more than two decades ago.
“You know, we’re part of a club that nobody would ever want to belong to,” Everson quipped.
With so many distracted drivers these days, Everson challenges all of us to ask two questions before getting behind the wheel.
“Who do you love, and who loves you?” Everson asked. “Because our answers to those questions are every reason we should need to slow down, to buckle up, to stop at stop signs, to put our cell phones aside, and just focus on the task at hand.”
Stanfield said until then, she will keep fighting against hit-and-run driving.
“There is someone out here with a voice, one voice at a time, that’s speaking out on behalf of your family. Your loved one. Your friend. Your associate that has been impacted by traffic violence, and in this case hit-and-run driving,” Stanfield said.
Stanfield said her organization is looking to share more stories of people impacted by hit-and-run incidents. If you would like to share your story, you can do so by visiting their website.