Richmond Mayor Danny Avula issued a statement following a fatal pedestrian-involved crash on Semmes Avenue, marking the second pedestrian death in the city in just over a week. The Richmond Police Department’s Crash Team is currently investigating the incident.
“It’s another heartbreaking loss, and my thoughts are with the family of the victim,” Avula said.
The mayor referenced an event held this past October on Halloween, which he described as “one of the deadliest nights of the year for pedestrians.” During that event, community members, advocates, policy makers, transportation teams from the city, and police reaffirmed their commitment to Vision Zero—a city initiative aimed at eliminating traffic deaths.
Avula stated that his team has been tasked with identifying urgent opportunities to improve safety for residents who walk, ride, or use other forms of transportation on Richmond’s Southside. He emphasized both immediate measures and longer-term Vision Zero policies. According to Avula: “We know the strategies that work-lowering speed limits in residential areas, creating high-visibility crosswalks, adding curb extensions, creating more protected bike and bus lanes-and we need to move with urgency and precision to focus our investments in the places they will matter most.”
He also noted that last week he asked his Chief Administrative Officer to consider immediate actions to increase safety at East Broad Street and 10th Street downtown—an intersection where another recent pedestrian fatality occurred. Avula mentioned ongoing discussions with VCU Health leadership regarding collaborative efforts to address these safety issues.
Finally, Avula urged drivers to exercise caution: “Finally, I urge every driver: slow down, put your phone away. We cannot accept traffic deaths as normal. The only way we will achieve the goal of zero traffic-related deaths is by committing to a culture of safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, and changing our behaviors to prioritize safety for all.”
