Family, friends demand accountability at Providence vigil for deadly pedestrian crashes

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — After a string of deadly pedestrian crashes, families, friends and leaders are demanding accountability.

Rhode Islanders gathered outside Providence City Hall on Sunday for World Remembrance Day.

The event held just two days after a man was killed crossing Atwood Avenue in Cranston.

Dozens commemorating him and other victims of similar crashes at the remembrance.

“It’s really important that we give a face to traffic violence,” Providence Streets Coalition operations manager Dylan Giles said.

According to the coalition, eight pedestrians or cyclists have been killed in crashes across Rhode Island in 2025.

“The problem is continuing and we are here to center the victims families, center the peoples whose lives have been shattered, lift them up, but also call for change so that we don’t have to have this event in the future,” Giles said.

November 16 is World Day of Remembrance, which honors over a million people killed in traffic crashes each year globally.

At Sunday’s remembrance, the Providence coalition focused on the recent string of pedestrian deaths in Rhode Island.

“Here in Providence, two people lost their lives in October, and the event happening in November on the cusp of those tragedies, just kind of allows us to elevate those families,” Giles said.

The coalition called to lower the legal speed limit on local roads in Providence from 25 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour.

“We know that speed is the number one factor that contributes to an injury being a serious injury or fatality versus a minor injury,” Giles said.

One of the people in attendance, Michael English, who is running for Providence mayor.

His brother, Edwin, was killed in a hit and run in Providence on North Main Street in 2023.

Part of English’s campaign platform has been to call for safer street designs and the formation of a community coalition on street safety.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley attended the event, discussing Vision Zero, the city’s goal of eventually getting to zero pedestrian deaths.

Smiley said part of the plan includes “improved pedestrian crossings, improved crosswalks, what they call leading pedestrian intervals.”

“Everyone deserves to be safe on our streets, and we are doing all of the above,” Smiley said.