'So preventable:' Memorial held for record number of deadly pedestrian crashes in Nashville
Drivers play the biggest role to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe on roadways was the message at a memorial Saturday to remember a Nashville record 50 fatalities on city streets in 2022.
“Knowing 50 or more families are going through what we went through is so wrong, so preventable,” said Darlett Sowers, whose adult son, Timothy Joshua Sowers, was killed in 2020 walking home from the bus stop at Harding Place and Antioch Pike after a driver turned off Antioch Pike and fatally hit him.
“The most heart-wrenching, worst experience of our lives,” Darlett said alongside with husband Ernie Sowers.
The Walk Bike Nashville honored the 48 pedestrians and two cyclists killed in 2022 at the memorial on Dickerson Pike, considered one of the city’s most dangerous roadways for walkers and bikers. Five deaths occurred on Dickerson last year and two more just off the roadway, Walk Bike Nashville Policy and Government Relations Manager Wesley Smith said.
The Sowers have joined the Walk Bike Nashville movement to push for safety measures, such as a new Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon crosswalk to be operational on Dickerson Pike that was on display alongside the memorial.
But family and friends of victims to pedestrian and cycling fatality crashes also pleaded with drivers to be more aware.
“We’ve got to get past calling these accidents,” said Chuck Isbell, whose son, Nate, was killed as a 13-year-old on Halloween night 2020 standing on a skateboard he was riding in Rutherford County.
Isbell is trying to expand pedestrian and cycling road safety efforts into Rutherford County, including a speed limit of 25 miles per hour on residential roads there.
“Please be aware of your surroundings,” Isbell urged those at the memorial. "What should you be aware of? We have to think about other people besides yourself. There is no happy ending.”
Dickerson, Charlotte, Gallatin, Murfreesboro and Nolensville roads have all been subject to a number of pedestrian fatalities.
All 50 pedestrians and cyclists killed in Nashville last year had their names read at the memorial. Those attending also did a walk alongside memorials set up for each victim going down a stretch of Dickerson Pike. It was Walk Bike Nashville's sixth annual memorial.
"When Walk Bike Nashville did a memorial and included our son it helped to know other people cared," Darlett Sowers said. ""We wanted to join and see how we could help."
A TDOT representative spoke about plans for future safety and pedestrian-friendly enhancements on a stretch of Dickerson Road that will involve public input.
Walk Bike Nashville has also specified several target goals that include:
Lowering speed limits to 30 miles per hour on stretches of roadways identified as part of a high injury network working with Nashville Department of Transportation & Multimodal Infrastructure.
To prioritize roads considered most dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists through a new Vision Zero Task Force.
A sensitivity training session for media, law enforcement and elected officials to attend this spring.
To push and promote a campaign for drivers to ask: “Is there anything I should be aware of? Is there anyone that I should be aware of?”
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Families of deadly pedestrian crashes call on you at Walk Bike Nashville memorial
