SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) –Sunday is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Since 2014, Walk San Fransisco reports 317 people have died on San Fransisco streets due to being hit by cars while crossing the street. Survivors of traffic accidents and loved ones of victims gathered on the steps of City Hall to remember the lives lost.
Three hundred seventeen shoes lined the capital steps — remembering those who died in traffic crashes in San Francisco. It is the 10th annual World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims.
“There are days that I still think I have to pick her up from school, and then I realize she’s not here, it’s very painful, very painful,” said Lena Quiroz.
Elizabeth Chavez’s 5-year-old daughter Aileen Quiroz was struck and killed by a speeding driver 10 years ago in San Jose while crossing the street in a school zone
“She got run over by a speeding driver and my sister-in-law and my youngest daughter at the time all three got struck and Aileen passed away,” Chavez said.
Chavez’s sister-in-law, Lena Quiroz, was also hit on that tragic day.
Lena says she remembers just waking up in the middle of the street and then going to the hospital, and when she woke up, she was told that Aileen had died.
“She was the most beautiful girl I have ever met,” Lena said. “I don’t have any kids but she was like my daughter I took care of her since she was a baby, and that day changed our lives forever.”
A very emotional Chavez says seeing all of the shoes on the steps is hard.
“Heartbroken because that means that we’re not safe out there on the streets, we think we are but at the same time we’re not because people aren’t paying attention when they’re driving,” Chavez said.
Walk San Fransisco provides families and victims with resources families for safe streets and people who have been impacted or lost loved ones.
“We always say it’s a group that you don’t want to join and it’s something that provides not only a way for people to grieve but also so many turn that sadness and frustration to action,” said Walk San Francisco Executive Director Jodie Medeiros.
“Walk San Francisco and people who attended the remembrance are hopeful for a new law called daylighting, which prohibits drivers from parking around intersections, which clearly blocks the sightlines for drivers and pedestrians,” Medieros said.
Chavez and so many others took action today to speak up and say enough is enough — drivers slow down.
“There are major consequences for not being attentive drivers and I lost my daughter from a distracted driver who was speeding at a school zone,” Chavez said.
