27-year outdated Kenard Hawkins was killed whereas crossing the road by a hit-and-run driver in 2018.
MARLOW HEIGHTS, Md. — The Street-Smart program and native police are teaming as much as save lives on the roads by reminding drivers to decelerate and concentrate behind the wheel.
“Just about I am on their own,” mentioned Angelo Brown who misplaced his solely brother to a hit-and-run automobile crash three years in the past.
Brown then had a option to make. He may crumble underneath the load of dropping each his mom and brother or rise and converse out.
“We attempt to honor Kenard as a lot as we are able to by speaking about him,” mentioned Brown, “He liked music and will play any instrument to perfection. I feel if he had been nonetheless alive at this time, he would most likely be like a band director or one thing as a result of he was simply that proficient. He liked to smile and snort.”
Angelo was 10 years outdated and his brother Kenard was solely 3 years outdated when their mom, Cheryl Hawkins, was murdered in 1993. Hawkins was a cafeteria employee on the Smithsonian’s Air and Area Museum. Police mentioned she was shot to dying by a museum safety guard.
“It was like any person simply ripped our hearts out. It’s devastating,” he recalled.
Then on February 8, 2018, Brown’s brother Kenard Hawkins was killed whereas crossing the road at St. Barnabas and Wheeler Roads in Marlow Heights. He was 27 years outdated.
Brown mentioned his brother was within the crosswalk when he was hit by a automobile making a left flip. The driving force sped off and has by no means been discovered to today.
“We hope that Kenard’s story will function a marker of what to not do,” defined Brown, “to respect folks on a roadway.”
Brown has turn out to be an advocate with Avenue Sensible, utilizing his story to warn drivers to be vigilant on the roads.
Prince George’s County Police strengthened that effort in Forestville on Monday the place officers handed out literature, talked to folks crossing the road and warned drivers.
In line with the Avenue-Sensible marketing campaign, 98 folks within the metro area had been killed final 12 months whereas strolling or biking.
Brown hopes his brother’s story will compel drivers to place the telephones down when behind the wheel.
“Right here within the D.C. space, we’re in such a rush,” mentioned Brown. “Decelerate. Be cognizant and vigilant on the roadways and respect each other as a result of there’s too many mindless accidents the place you are taking somebody’s liked one away from them. So, if it will probably wait, let it wait.”
Failing to cease for a pedestrian in a crosswalk may lead to a $500 nice and a degree in your driver’s license.
