Ghost Tire Placed for Trina Newman-Townsend, Killed by Hit and Run Driver in South LA
On December 31st, Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) placed a ghost tire for Trina Newman-Townsend, who tragically lost her life on December 24th, 2022, when a driver hit her as she was getting into her car on Broadway Ave at 88th Street. The driver allegedly sped up to 65 MPH (Broadway has a 35 MPH speed limit), ran a red light, hit Trina, and never stopped. Trina died instantly. Eleven days later, 55-year-old Carlos Mayor was arrested and charged with felony hit-and-run for Trina’s death.
Darlene Smith, Trina’s sister, spearheaded the placement of the ghost tire right next to the crash site to remind those walking and driving along Broadway of the need to slow down and watch out for pedestrians. In addition to Streets Are For Everyone, she was joined by many extended family members and multiple press outlets to commemorate the tragedy's first anniversary. The ghost tire was placed near the shelter Trina had just left after donating toys the night the tragic hit-and-run occurred. There is also now a mural of Trina commissioned by her high school sweetheart at the location.
Broadway, the street where Trina was killed, has gone through re-design as part of LA’s Vision Zero program. However, excessive speed has not been adequately addressed, and there is little to no enforcement of speed limits and other basic traffic laws. In an informal speed survey done using radar guns by Trina’s family in early July 2023, they found that 29% of the vehicles on the road were traveling at 45 MPH or greater, and 15% were doing over 50 MPH.
A year later, Trina’s family continues to grapple with the task of reconstructing their lives without her as they strive to find meaning and piece together the fragments left behind. To cope with her grief, Darlene Smith, Trina’s sister, now works with Streets Are For Everyone on road safety advocacy, including speaking in Sacramento on behalf of the life-saving bill AB 645 (Speed Safety Camera Bill), which passed and was signed into law in September 2023. She also works with and supports other families who have lost loved ones due to traffic violence. We are very grateful for her strength and commitment to making Los Angeles’ streets safer after her loss.