Letters to the Editor

Tragically, a man was struck and killed Nov. 29 on Lemay Ferry Road while trying to cross the street in his wheelchair just south of Victory Drive. A couple hundred yards of safe, accessible sidewalk would have prevented this senseless death.

A televised report from 2015 quoted a man who had been struck and injured along the unsafe stretch in his wheelchair, “We want a sidewalk before somebody really gets killed.”

Another quote from the article: “She and other residents of the AHEPA Apartments believe someone will be seriously injured or even killed unless sidewalks are extended in the area.”

I have contacted Councilman Ernie Trakas multiple times since 2017 expressing concern about the serious safety issue.

He responded, “There are many different departments and state and local efforts in striving to obtain the much needed sidewalks. I continue to pledge my efforts in obtaining the goal of safety and convenience for the residents in the area.”

He referred me to the Missouri Department of Transportation, or MoDOT, who cited property rights and telephone poles as challenges.

Flash forward to today. A disabled man with no good options tried to cross the street and lost his life.

This is not rocket science, people. Our community deserves better. Mr. Sevjija Ferhatovic, may he rest in peace, deserved better. Please MoDOT – fix the sidewalks.

Dawn Buechner
Concord