Ghost Tire Placed to Honor the Life of 15-Year-Old Killed by a Speeding, Distracted Driver
Streets Are For Everyone, family members who have lost loved ones due to traffic violence, and the family of 15-year-old Felipe Manuel Infante-Avolos, affectionately known as Pipé, gathered this past Sunday, December 17th, to place a Ghost Tire Memorial on the corner of 110th and Main streets where Pipé was hit on October 27th. He died 12 days later, on November 8th. Pipé was walking to school and was using a designated crosswalk one block away from his home when he was struck by 34-year-old Arturo Mercado Garcia, who then fled the scene of the collision. Per the judge for the pending trial of Arturo, evidence was found that he was watching TikTok videos while driving.
15-year-old Pipé, who had autism, was a kind and gentle young man deeply cherished by his family. Pipé participated in his school’s ROTC program and was passionate about sewing and crafting his own stuffed animals. Although his mother recognizes that nothing can reunite her with her son, she aims for the Ghost Tire Memorial to bring attention to this tragic loss, emphasizing the urgency for officials to enhance child safety amidst hazardous traffic conditions in Los Angeles.
At the crash site, loved ones displayed signs urging drivers to exercise caution, slow down, and be vigilant for pedestrians. Pipé’s mother is advocating for installing an additional stop sign at the crash site to safeguard children from experiencing a similar fate to Pipé’s.
Pipé’s death is part of a worsening public health crisis on the roads of Los Angeles City that has been skyrocketing since 2020. Per LAPD reports (as of 9 December 2023), the total number of traffic fatalities this year is 307, which is 7% higher than last year. What’s worse is the number of pedestrian fatalities is up by 11% (162 lives lost) compared to this time last year, the number of hit-and-run fatalities is up by 26%, and the number of DUI-related fatalities is up by 32%. Last year was already the highest on record.
“Don’t ruin another family’s life, or your own. Be a responsible driver. And to our elected officials, it’s time we prioritize the safety of this community and treat the public health crisis on our roads with the urgency it deserves.”
Lastly, expressing her gratitude for the backing of Streets Are For Everyone, Pipé’s mom viewed the Ghost Tire Memorial as validation that her concerns were being heard, saying that “this (Ghost Tire placement) shows someone is hearing my voice, cares and is striving for justice.” Executive Director Damian Kevitt had a message for drivers: “Don’t ruin another family’s life or your own. Be a responsible driver. And to our elected officials, it’s time we prioritize the safety of this community and treat the public health crisis on our roads with the urgency it deserves.”
You can help by joining the SAFE streets movement with Streets Are For Everyone, attending our next Die-In on the steps of LA City Hall on the 27th of January, or signing the petition by Ted Rogers of BikingInLA.