The community holds a vigil at Portland City Hall to honor those killed in traffic accidents

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – Community members gathered outside Portland City Hall on Sunday for World Day of Remembrance, a national event honoring people killed in traffic incidents.

The group Families for Safe Streets organized the vigil and is supporting traffic accident victims and their families, while also advocating for safe road rules.

For group member Michelle DuBarry and many others, Sunday’s vigil was personal.

“Every accident death is preventable,” DuBarry said. “In 2010, my son Seamus was struck and killed by a motorist at a crosswalk. He was one.”

David Sale said, “My daughter, Danielle, was hit by a TriMet bus.”

“My son was 28 years old when he was hit on his bicycle on Division Street,” said Kristi Finney-Dunne, who previously worked at Families for Safe Streets.

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Last week, the Portland Auditor released a report on the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s “Vision Zero” program. The program aims to reduce the number of road deaths and injuries per year to zero. But in the decade since the program has been active, the death toll has only risen, leaving more families to grieve their loved ones.

“This shouldn’t happen to people,” Finney-Dunne said.

During the vigil, community members decorated the pillars outside City Hall with red carnations. Each carnation represented a life lost in a traffic accident.

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While many people took the opportunity to remember their loved ones, others turned their anger into advocacy, calling on the city to implement safer traffic laws as soon as possible.

“Every time people like me ask for money, or any kind of change, like adding a bike lane or improving a crosswalk, we are always told there is no money,” DuBarry said. “Meanwhile, there are plans for a $10 billion highway expansion just within a five-mile radius of my house.”

“This is an epidemic that will not stop unless something is done,” Sale said.

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