Petition started for safe path along Highway 9 after young man killed

Family and friends of a young man killed on Highway 9 in Felton are urging the county to make a safe route for pedestrians and bicyclists along that dangerous stretch of road.

Efforts to get a safe route from downtown Felton to the San Lorenzo Valley Schools have been ongoing, but some people say the process has been too slow and cost a young man his life.

Josh Howard, 22, was walking toward downtown Felton on Highway 9 when he was hit and killed by a driver on Feb. 21.

His mom says one of the most hurtful things is knowing this could have been prevented if a safe route had been implemented. “The loss is unimaginable,” she said. “My main concern is that I do not want anyone to ever go through this feeling, or this loss in there life. There’s so many children, little kids, that walk the highway. I see it every day and it’s scary. It’s scary and you know, it can happen. It did, to Josh.”

Felton resident Bryan Largay says he’s been asking elected and county officials for a safer route in that area for 11 years now. “Even though it’s less than a half mile from school to town, there are sections that are so skinny for a pedestrian that you can touch traffic with one hand and a retaining wall with the other.”

Largay, whose children are in the San Lorenzo Valley School system, says more children would walk if it were safer. “It’s easy to walk, it’s healthy to walk and yet it’s not safe to walk,” he said. “I think at least 100 kids walk down Highway 9 to school each day and more would if it were safer.”

A close friend, Joni Martin, started a petition after Howard’s death in hopes of getting county officials to see the urgency the community is feeling when it comes making a safe route.

“When I heard about what happened to Josh, I felt it as if it were my own son. We live in a small town community and I feel like most parents here feel like all kids are their kids. Our community is reeling from this loss and I wanted to make sure this tragedy that could have been prevented didn’t happen again,” said Martin.

Outside of having a safe way to walk and bike, community members want to see the new safe path be in memory of Josh. Martin added, “we want this done in Josh’s memory, we want to see signs along there that honor his memory. He was a beautiful soul that touched so many people and he will not be forgotten.”

The regional transportation commission is working on safety improvement plans for that area, but officials were not available for comment about when that project construction will begin.

To sign the petition, click here.