Sunday is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims , and people across the country gathered to honor the lives lost.
Families of crash victims in Philadelphia came together in Carroll Park to reflect on the impact of traffic violence in the city.
“It’s tragic. It’s heartbreaking. It’s painful,” said Nereda Jones-Pugh, the mother of Nyier “Nas” Cunningham who was killed in a hit-and-run in 2022.
The parents of Mario D’Adamo also attended. D’Adamo was hit and killed while riding his bike in FDR Park in August of 2023.
“The impact of losing a son. He’s here. A second later, you’re expecting him to walk through the door and he’s not there. It’s a trauma.” Mario D’Adamo, who shares the same name with his son.
“It’s horrible, horrible. It’s a horrible feeling to live like this,” Paula D’Adamo said.
There have been 116 traffic fatalities in Philadelphia so far this year, which is why many have continued to push local and state leaders to do more to make the roads safer.