by Robin Kemp
A butterfly release will mark a ceremony in honor of the people who have been killed in Clayton County traffic accidents so far this year–including a mother and daughter who were just passing through.
District 3 Commissioner Felicia Franklin will hold the vigil today (Wednesday, July 21) in front of the HArold R. Banke Justice Center, 9151 Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro.
Here are their names:
| NAME | AGE | LOCATION | DATE | NOTE |
| Trenton Turner | 22 | Clark Howell Hwy. | Jan. 8 | |
| Kevin Jacobs | 37 | Hwy. 85 & Mize Road | Jan. 8 | Pedestrian |
| Nicole Carter | 31 | I-285 & I-75 | Feb. 3 | |
| Christopher Elikwu | 57 | Riverdale Road & Greenwood Lane | Feb. 3 | Pedestrian |
| Freddy Woodard | 64 | Mount Zion Road & Fielder Road | Feb. 3 | Pedestrian |
| Teswanna McElyea | 29 | SR 54 & Tara Road | Feb. 5 | Pedestrian |
| Manuel Tavera-Sanchez | 34 | Tara Road & Washington Road | Feb. 5 | |
| Vernon Hackney | 36 | Tara Blvd. & Mount Zion Road | Feb. 18 | Pedestrian |
| Andrew Ragan | 71 | SR 42 & Lake Harbin Road | March 2 | |
| Eric Tyler | 45 | SR 42 & Old Morrow Road | March 7 | |
| Kareem Davis | 36 | Tara Blvd. & McDonough Road | March 11 | |
| David Guilford | 34 | SR 85 & Rock Hill Drive | March 22 | Pedestrian |
| Crystal Stuart | 39 | Tara Blvd & N. Main Street | April 19 | |
| Antwon Green | 35 | SR 85 & Lee Street | April 17 | Pedestrian |
| Ofc. Armando Mendoza | 22 | Tara Blvd. & S. Main Street | April 19 | |
| Jacquez Thompson | 15 | Hwy 138 & Old Hwy. 138 | April 27 | Four-wheeler |
| Christain White | 19 | Crossbow Trail | May 10 | |
| Mirza Raymundo-Marcos | 15 | SR 85 & Warren Drive | May 10 | Pedestrian |
| Alagie Ndow | 27 | SR 138 & Lake Ridge Pkwy. | June 15 | |
| Willis Price | 43 | Tara Blvd. & Iron Gate Blvd. | June 22 | Pedestrian |
| Queene Roux | 28 | I-75 N | June 23 | |
| Destiny Glass | 21 | I-285 E & Riverdale Road | June 27 | Pedestrian |
| Nathaniel Taylor | 29 | Mount Zion Road & Reeves Road | July 4 | |
| Viengnakone Phanhmixay | 49 | Tara Blvd. & Upper Riverdale Road | July 5 | Pedestrian |
Eleven of the 25 people killed on Clayton County roads were pedestrians. One was a 15-year-old on a four-wheeler. One, Clayton County Police Ofc. Armando Mendoza, was driving when his patrol car was struck by another driver. Six were killed on Tara Boulevard, which is one of Georgia’s ten most dangerous roadways. Three died on Mount Zion Road. Four died on Georgia Hwy. 85. Three died on area interstates.
“So many families have been shattered this year on our roads,” Franklin said. “It pains me to think that some loss could have been prevented with certain precautions in place to keep our citizens and visitors safe.”
In an exclusive interview with The Clayton Crescent, Franklin said part of the solution may include pedestrian bridges over Tara Boulevard:
On Thursday, July 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Smart Pedestrian Project will take place at the Flint River Community Center, where citizens can make their voices heard about road and pedestrian safety in Clayton County. Franklin will detail efforts to secure state and federal funding to make those changes happen.
Thank you for your support of local, professional, non-profit news coverage in Clayton County! If you haven’t already done so, please make a recurring monthly, quarterly, annual or one-time gift at the level that’s right for you by visiting https://donorbox.org/clayton-crescent. If you want this service to continue, we need your help. Consider calculating your monthly coffee, fast food, or streaming media expense, then donate that amount each month using your credit or debit card–set it and forget it!–and you can make a big impact on holding your local government accountable. Double your tax-deductible impact through your employer’s matching-gift program and encourage at least two friends to join you in making a donation! We are here to shine a light in dark corners, to follow the money, and to make a difference by equipping you with the tools to keep your community and your democracy running smoothly! Without The Clayton Crescent, massive amounts of local news–and history–would have been lost over the past year. To all those who continue to support The Clayton Crescent, we thank you.
