INDIANAPOLIS — It only takes Robi McKay two minutes to drive from his home to the bus stop at East 21st Street and Post Road.
That's the area where 7-year-old Sevion Sanford was struck and killed in a crash Friday morning.
McKay is one of many who live in the area who are now calling for change after the crash.
“It's hit and run central over here,” McKay said.
A similar tragedy struck in September 2021. Then, 7-year-old Hannah Crutchfield died after being hit by two drivers at East Washington Street and South Ritter Avenue.
“It's gut-wrenching. It makes my stomach sink every time we have an incident like this, and we just have way too many incidents like this,” said Jason Larrison, Indianapolis City-County councilor for the city's 12th district.
Larrison thought about Hannah Friday morning when he heard about Sevion's death.
“The first thing that came into my head was, ‘We're going through this again,’” he said.
McKay says people speed through that part of town every day.
“It's more than depressing, It's more than sad. Something needs to be done over here because the cars come up and down these streets at ridiculous speeds,” he said.
Larrison agrees that the problem lies with drivers speeding and not paying attention, and that’s a problem that extends beyond 21st and Post.
Sandford and Crutchfield are two of at least five children killed by drivers in Central Indiana since August 2021, according to WRTV’s records.
- August 27, 2021: Saleina Marcelus, 12
- August 30, 2021: Lily Streeval, 16
- September 14, 2021: Hannah Crutchfield, 7
- December 11, 2021: Kyson Beatty, 11
- March 18, 2022: Sevion Sanford, 7
Four of the five were heading to or from school.
“Something needs to be done. It's gotta be done. And it needs to be done immediately,” said McKay.
Larrison expects the council to take actions that will calm the traffic flow and reduce dangerous driving. But it will take time, and the council isn’t all-powerful. Drivers have to choose to slow down and keep their eyes on the road.
“Focus on school zones, focus on bus stops. These (are) places where our most vulnerable population, which is the children, stand four feet from where cars are going 45 mph right past them,” said Larrison. “None of these measures matter if drivers choose to ignore them.”
-
How will a proposed cigarette tax increase affect Hoosier health?
Indiana lawmakers are working on passing a budget that would increase the state’s cigarette tax by $2 per pack. Lawmakers say it will help with the state’s budget deficit and medicaid costs.
Residents file lawsuit challenging Pittsboro data center rezoning decision
Residents of Pittsboro have filed a lawsuit challenging a recent decision by the Town Council to rezone land for a new data center.
Overnight lane closures begin tonight on I-465 on west side of Indianapolis
Starting overnight on Thursday, motorists should prepare for nightly lane closures on I-465 between I-70 and 38th Street on the west side of Indianapolis.
26-year-old Muncie mom convicted of neglect after child found with 20 fractures
A 26-year-old woman was found guilty Thursday for neglect after her 5-month-old child was found with close to 20 bone fractures in 2023.
