Transportation Alternatives

Please join me this Father’s Day in supporting Families for Safe Streets, an organization composed of individuals, who like me, have lost a family member or suffered a serious injury in a traffic crash. I am asking my friends, family and all of those who know of my daughter Robyn Avril Hightman, to give a donation to Families for Safe Streets in their memory.

One of the fondest memories I have of Father’s Day, was when my two daughters were still in Middle School. They asked me to give them the telephone number of a close friend of mine, Susan Honour. The girls would not say why they wanted to contact them. When Father’s Day arrived, I was surprised by the plan my children had come up with. They arranged for Sue to pick up all of us at the house and take my girls and me out to dinner. Robyn & Rachel had saved up money, so it was “their treat”, as I was proudly told by them. This was the happiest Father’s Day I ever had, the memories of this still bring a smile to my face and now from the loss of Robyn, tears to my eyes. This holiday, especially with how close it is to the anniversary of Robyn’s death, is now a painful reminder of all that was lost as a result of a senseless crash. Every single day, I am reminded of them.

Please join me this Father’s Day in supporting Families for Safe Streets, an organization composed of individuals, who like me, have lost a family member or suffered a serious injury in a traffic crash, by providing a donation to Families for Safe Streets in Robyn’s memory.

The crash that took the life of Robyn changed me forever and led me to become actively involved with Families for Safe Streets. Families for Safe Streets works to end the preventable epidemic of traffic violence in our communities by advocating for life-saving infrastructure and legal changes while providing support to those who have been impacted by crashes.

On October 8th, my family will mark ten painful years since we lost my kind, adorable, beloved grandson Sammy. Please join me as we mark this unimaginable day by supporting Families for Safe Streets, an organization composed of individuals like me who have lost a family member or suffered a serious injury in a traffic crash. (Note that FSS is a project of Transportation Alternatives.)

Many of you have heard stories of Sammy over the past ten years. You've heard about his fierce determination. He was the youngest rider to complete the New York City Century ride only weeks before he was killed. He begged his parents to send him to a middle school that was more academically rigorous. Despite his small size, he was a fierce soccer player. And he loved a good argument. But he also had such a soft spot and would hold his mother's hand, give me big hugs, and adored his big sister.

The crash that took the Sammy's life changed our family's lives forever. My daughter Amy was so heartbroken but she channeled that pain into founding Families for Safe Streets, an organization composed of people who have lost a family member or suffered a serious injury in a traffic crash. Families for Safe Streets works to end the preventable epidemic of traffic violence in our communities by advocating for life-saving changes and providing support to those who have been impacted by crashes.

I have gone with Amy countless times to rallies, vigils and memorials. We have travelled to Albany countless times. We've stood on the steps of City Hall. We demand change from our city, state, and federal leaders.

On October 8th, I will be thinking of Sammy as I always do. But this date is a particularly painful reminder of his death in a senseless crash. We all miss him every single day. His sister Tamar and my other grandchildren (his cousins) Jacob, Jeremy and Isaiah have all graduated high school, completed college, and are now starting their lives as young adults. His other cousins, Adam and Isabel, are now both getting married and Noah is a young adult embarking on a new career. Sammy only got 12 years. It is so unfair and so unnecessary.

Please, for Sammy, join me in supporting FSS. The funds I raise will help support the FSS National Crash Sign Bank to mark crash sites and help press for change to end this preventable crisis on our roadways. $1,500 will help FSS purchase nearly 300 signs marking locations where someone was killed in a crash like Sammy to memorialize their death and demand action in their name.

Please join me this Father’s Day in supporting Families for Safe Streets (a project of Transportation Alternatives), an organization comprised of individuals like me who have lost a family member or suffered a serious injury in a traffic crash. Instead of any gifts, cards, or well wishes this year to mark this holiday, I am asking my friends and family members to give a donation to Families for Safe Streets in memory of Allison Liao.

On October 6, 2013, my three-year-old daughter was run over by a distracted driver making a left turn and failed to yield to her and her grandmother. She died on Cherry Ave and Main Street in Queens, New York.

I will cherish the memories of the special moments we shared as father and daughter, whether it was the joyous times spent at the playground or those delightful escapes to the ice cream shop for a sweet treat. The memories of those times will forever hold a place in me, and I will always miss them dearly.

The crash that took the life of Allison changed my life forever and led me to Families for Safe Streets, an organization composed of people who have lost a family member or suffered a serious injury in a traffic crash. Families for Safe Streets works to end the preventable epidemic of traffic violence in our communities by advocating for life-saving changes and providing support to those who have been impacted by crashes.

In memory of Allison, I am asking my friends and family members to donate to FSS.

During my time with FSS, my family and I play a role in strengthening the right-of-way law. lower the speed limit and continue to push policies that will make our streets safer for children like Allison.