‘That road needs changes’: State rep. and sister call for change to busy Providence intersection after aunt’s death

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Flowers now lay close to the Union Avenue intersection where 76-year-old Violet Barracks was struck and killed in a hit-and-run on Saturday.

The family saw her alleged killer, Domingo Castro, in court Monday morning.

Less than 48 hours after the hit-and-run, Castro was released on $30,000 bail.

Leaving Barracks niece, state Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell (D) in total shock.

“We walked in that courtroom not knowing what to expect, that is outrageous,” Ranglin-Vassell said.

Now Barracks’ family is calling for increased signage and more of a police presence in an area they say is known for speeding and dangerous for pedestrains.

“That system, that road nees changes. Yesterday another crash happened, so changes are going to happen on multiple fronts,” Barracks’ niece Lisa Ranglin said.

ABC 6 News received multiple complaints from Barracks family and others about traffic safety in that neighborhood.

Providence Police Chief Col. Hugh Clements said the department plans to take a closer look at what improvements can be made to that intersection and others across the city.

“Any of these service roads or these exit levels off the highway into the city, they’re dangerous,” Clements said. “This one in particular, we can take a look with the traffic engineers and see if there is more we can do, I think we owe that to the residents and the victims family.”