Local residents and local officials came out for this weekend for a march in Arlandria to remember those killed in traffic.
The march was hosted on Sunday, Nov. 17, by Alexandria Families for Safe Streets to honor World Remembrance Day, an international memorial event dedicated to raising awareness of traffic violence.
The husband and daughters of Rosemarie Cruz, who was killed in an Arlandria crosswalk in 2016, marched in the crowd with over 100 residents of Alexandria and Arlington, according to a press release. Photos and video of the event show marchers in the street around the intersection of West Glebe Road and Mount Vernon Avenue, where Cruz was killed.
Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson, Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey, and Alexandria Chief of Police Mike Brown also joined the march.
Alexandria has committed to Vision Zero, a plan to get to zero traffic fatalities. Part of the plan involves changing roadways to make them more accessible to non-car uses, like bicycles, but the implementation of the plan on Seminary Road has been the subject of significant local controversy.
“Vigilance on the part of drivers, cyclist and pedestrians alike plus improvement in safer road designs and higher enforcement visibility are ways in which traffic violence against pedestrian and other road users can be reduced,” the organization said in a press release.
The press release also notes that the event was preceded by another fatal pedestrian crash, on Duke Street.