Parents of Accident Victim Work to Make Road Safer

Shelley Osterloh ReportingYou may remember the story of a young woman who was hit by a car last summer near Liberty Park. While she lay in a coma, police worked hard to identify her. Tonight Shelley Osterloh talks with the family of the young woman who want to keep her memory alive.

Rachel Terry was hit by a car on July 18th and died about a month later. Though it was a devastating loss to her parents, who live in Virgina, they turned their grief into action, working to make improvements at the very Salt Lake City crosswalk where she was struck.

Each day about 40-thousand cars pass by Liberty Park along 7th East. It was the 9th South intersection where Rachel Terry, a 24 year old college student tried to cross, in the crosswalk. Her parents say she only got half way before the light changed. One car stopped and waved her on, but another, behind it, didn't see her and didn't stop.

Linda Terry, Rachel's Mother: "She was knocked 60 feet and she landed on her head."

A month later, Rachel Terry died. Her parents, Tim and Linda Terry, say she was a special young woman, an intelligent girl who was studying to be a librarian. Since her death, they have successfully lobbied the state department of transportation and the public safety commission to make some changes.

Tim Terry, Rachel's Father: "They've lengthened the time to cross at that intersection there. They've added on about ten seconds which makes a bit of difference. They've added all these flags, these bright orange flags."

Each year about 950 pedestrians are struck by cars in Utah and about 40 die from their injuries.

Tim Terry, Rachel's Father: "But as far as I'm concerned, one is too many, because you are tearing families apart when you do this. And it's a horrible trauma for anybody to have to go through."

In addition to changes at the crosswalks, a nearby group home for people with disabilities held special pedestrian safety classes.

Linda Terry, Rachel's Mother: "When they called us back and said, ‘We had a moment of silence for Rachel before we started our class and everyone cried.' And everyone says we remember Rachel. And that's our success, that's our success."

The Terrys say knowing that Rachel's life has helped others is a comfort to them and the way Rachel lived her own life. The Terry's want to remind everyone on the roads to be more conscious of pedestrians. Slow down in neighborhoods and around parks and schools. Remember drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing the street at an intersection whether the crosswalk is marked or unmarked.

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