As reported, tomorrow, June 20 will mark a somber moment for the Milwaukee community as the eastbound lanes of Oklahoma Ave. from S. 49th St. to S. 51st St. will be closed from 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The temporary closure is in memoriam of three young adults who tragically lost their lives in a high-speed crash on this day last year. A vigil, organized by family and friends of the victims, will begin at 2 p.m. to honor those lives cut short and to raise awareness about the perils of reckless driving.
Remembering the incident that occurred near the intersection of 50th and Oklahoma, local residents are planning to pay their respects and champion safer driving practices. With anticipated road closures, Alderman Peter Burgelis has called on the community, particularly drivers in the vicinity, to prepare for disruptions. Prepared in the dark that morning last June, when three young adults were taken too soon, a learning experience emerges for the living; the costly lesson of recklessness behind the wheel.
"For those who plan to travel east on Oklahoma Ave. Friday, please be respectful of the vigil that will be ongoing and plan an alternate route accordingly," Alderman Burgelis stated, as noted in the City of Milwaukee official press release. Highlighting that the scars left by such events are not just physical but indeed palpable in the heart of the community, Burgelis calls for a reflective and concerted effort to prevent future tragedies.
As the city continues grappling with the issue of reckless driving, it leans on multifaceted strategies - including education, enforcement, and infrastructure improvements. Alderman Burgelis, in the City of Milwaukee statement, had a clear plea to motorists: "Drive at the posted speed limit. Wear your seatbelt. Obey traffic signs and signals." Adding, "Reckless driving injuries and deaths are preventable, and your life isn’t worth the risk," he aligns the community's concern with a pragmatic approach to making Milwaukee's streets safer for all.
