Help us honor your loved one's memory.
Victim Stories
ROSENDA ELIZABETH SMILEY
Date Of Death: May 25, 2024
Rose was miraculously born on December 5, 2009. Her life was stolen by a drunk driver on May 25, 2024. Rose traveled the world, loved to laugh, and enjoyed having fun. She believed in fairness and justice for both animals and people. Rose had plans, lots of plans. She knew which college she wanted to attend, where she wanted to travel, and how to live life to the fullest. Rose’s laugh was contagious, and her smile was like sunshine. She was a cuddlebug and affectionate with those she loved. She had opinions and thoughts on things most 14-year-olds do not, with wisdom beyond her years.
The crash occurred in Newport Beach at the intersection of East Balboa Boulevard and Palm Street, about a block away from the Balboa Fun Zone. Rose, her friend Sara, and her step-sister Alexa were crossing the street after a day at the beach. One driver stopped to let them cross, but another driver allegedly drove around the stopped car and struck Rose, who died at the scene. Sara was struck but survived. The driver had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit.
TRINA NEWMAN-TOWNSEND
Date Of Death: 24 December 2022
If the family of Trina Newman-Townsend could describe her in one word, it would be phenomenal! The love she gave and the sacrifices she made for others is unexplainable. She was the apple of the family, the glue of the family, the one who made us come together and stick together. To know her was to love her. She would light the room up every time she walked in with her loud voice and her big smile.
On Christmas Eve, 2022, Trina Newman-Townsend had just finished delivering toys to a shelter for children in need and gotten her foster children into her car when she was struck and killed by a speeding driver. The driver fled the scene but was caught almost two weeks after the collision.
Trina Newman-Townsend would teach anyone to love who you are and accept who you are. She was a community leader and very well known all over for what she did. She would take the clothes off her back and shoes off her feet to make sure someone else was happy. She was a good example to women who have been through something: no matter what you go through in life never give up on yourself.
Her loss is like a celebrity lost to the community and to her family. She was always the first one to show up no matter if she knew you or not; she would show up to support others. It takes a village to raise a kid and she was a part of everyone’s village including her own! We miss her now and we will miss her forever and her legacy will forever be remembered!
Trina Newman-Townsend is absent with the body but present with the lord. We love and miss her!
ZACHARY CRUZ
Date Of Death: February 27, 2009 • Age 6
Zachary was hit and killed in Berkeley while in the crosswalk on a clear day. The driver, who was blind in one eye, rolled through the stop. Zachary died at the hands of the driver of a 2ó-ton welding truck.
Zachary was a Beatles fan and an environmentalist who dreamed of growing up to be a scientist, doctor, and astronaut. He adored his little brother, Miles, who had been born just six months before his untimely death.
Miss you, baby cakes — see you at the party!
SHUET WONG
Date Of Death: November 18, 2024
My mother was hit while legally in a crosswalk steps from her apartment on her usual evening walk. The driver of a Chevy Silverado made an improper wide right turn and said he “didn’t see anything”. My mother was found 62 feet from the crosswalk.
My mother cannot be described in a few sentences. Some say that the death does not define a person. My sweet mother is not defined by her death, but her death, along with the daily and relentless killing of others on our streets and crosswalks, defines the unacceptable failures of our systems, our street designs, our laws (or lack of) on vehicle design, and our decision makers.
Not a day goes by without me thinking of you Mom. I am so proud of you, and I wish I had said that to you more often when you were still here. I have dreams where I have more time and I am grateful, relieved, and happy, only to be devastated when I wake up and realize all the times I had with you are now behind me. Will you please help us survivors be part of the path forward for safer cars and streets in the US.
RICHARD EDWARD BOERGER
Date Of Death: February 14, 2025
Richard and I were taking an evening walk after Valentine’s dinner in his Covina neighborhood, as we usually did for the past eight years.
Richard was holding my hand; we were having fun talking, getting our steps in so we could return home to have dessert. The last thing I remember is hearing his voice stop, and when I regained consciousness, he was badly injured behind me along the curb.
Richard was my extraordinary man — thoughtful, loving, creative, funny, witty, hardworking, spiritual — and he made every day a Valentine’s Day.
Richard, I miss you every moment of my day. I was truly blessed to have you in my life, my extraordinary man. – Maria del Carmen Gonzalez
NICHOLAS GAST
Date Of Death: July 28, 2024
Nick was killed while crossing the street outside the Elysian Theater on Riverside Drive after attending a comedy show at the theater.
He was a Montana kid who moved to LA with the love of his life in 2014. He worked as a creative producer at Unicorns and Unicorns. He was at once irreverent, funny, thoughtful, loving, intensely driven and oh so faithful and supportive to his friends. His potential to improve the lives around him was endless. His loss still ripples across the lives of so many people.
Void is the right word. You can’t replace the loss of hearing “Hi Pops” on the phone, or feeling those intense bear hugs. He lived his short life fully, never missing a beat.
JOEY CAPONE
Date Of Death: December 22, 2022
Joey was killed as a pedestrian in an unmarked crosswalk by a car traveling too fast during a storm.
He grew up in Orange County and spent much of his time in Los Angeles as an actor, producer, and director.
There are no words for this. There is only before — and now, after.
EMILY SHANE
Date Of Death: April 3, 2010 • Age 13
A 26-year-old driver on PCH in Malibu on Easter weekend deliberately aimed his car at her, killing her instantly. He survived.
Emily Shane was remembered for her extraordinarily gentle spirit — “she did not have a mean bone in her body” — and for her determination to overcome learning differences.
What made her truly special was how her parents transformed their grief into the Emily Shane Foundation, which has since empowered nearly 1,200 underserved middle schoolers, ensuring that Emily’s kindness continues to help children facing the same academic challenges she once conquered. The empty chair in our lives will never be filled, but your inspiration has moved us forward—to create change in as many middle school children’s lives as possible. — Michel Shane, Emily’s father
About the Empty Chair Club Initiative
Each year, thousands of people in California are killed in traffic crashes. In 2023 alone, 4,142 people were killed on California roads, an average of nearly 12 people every day. That is 4,142 empty chairs with a void that can never be filled at the dining room table or holiday family gathering.
Go Safely for people. Drive like a loved one is waiting for you to come home.
Act now to support safe streets. Use the social media toolkit to help spread this message that can inspire more people to choose safer driving behaviors.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
Held on the 3rd Sunday of November each year, World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) is a global event to remember the millions who have been killed and seriously injured on roads worldwide and acknowledge the pain endured by the victims, their families and communities.
"711 Empty Chairs"
For the 2025 World Day of Remembrance (WDoR) for Road Traffic Victims on Nov. 16, state and local leaders joined traffic safety organizations in downtown Los Angeles for a moving installation and remembrance event of 711 empty chairs. Each chair was adorned with a single yellow rose to represent each person killed on Los Angeles County roads last year.
Families of victims gathered to share decorated chairs, photos, and other mementos to place on one of the chairs.
Multiple WDoR events were held throughout the state, including Costa Mesa, Fresno, Riverside County, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo County and South Lake Tahoe.
The Road Safety Problem
814 people were killed in Los Angeles County traffic crashes in 2023 — about two every day.
20,902 fatal and serious injuries on California roads.*
4,996 fatal and serious injuries on Los Angeles County roads.*
5,460 speed-related fatality and serious injuries on California roads.*
1,100 people killed in speed-related crashes on California roads.*
40.6% of all fatal crashes California roads where alcohol and drugs were a factor.*
39.7% of all fatalities on Los Angeles County roads were people walking or biking.*
32.1% of all fatal crashes on Los Angeles County roads where speed was a factor.*
*2023 Data: University of California Berkeley’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS).
Traffic Safety Victim Support & Other Resources
There is help for survivors of traffic crashes and loved ones who have had someone close to them killed in a crash. Whether you need to talk to others who have also been personally impacted, resources, support, or to take action to improve traffic safety, there are many organizations who can provide a helping hand.
