BUFFALO, NY- Balloons and flowers mark the spot where a car ran down a mother and her two young children at Delaware Park. A three year-old boy was killed and his 5-year old sister was seriously injured. Their mother escaped with cuts and bruises.
"When I heard yesterday that a car hit two children my heart bled, it hurts today I get choked up about it. It's not right," said Kerri Machemer.
Now these Parkside residents are calling themselves "Parents for a Safe Delaware Park" are calling on the city and the state to make some major changes here along the 198.
"You know, we just want to see change. This tragedy needs a speed reduction, it needs the effect of that walkway to be safer. We just need something so people feel safe walking there," said DeLuca.
Unlike guardrail that divides the east and westbound lanes if the Scajacquada, there is no safety barrier between the road on the westbound stretch and Ring Road inside the park.
"Slow it down to 30 miles per hour, put guard rails along the side so cars can't jump over and injure pedestrians. Something, something desperately needs to be done here," said Machemer.
"We in the community have been talking for years about how to downgrade the Scajacquada and make it safer," said Sean Ryan.
State Assemblyman Sean Ryan has been pushing for years to lower the speed and change the highway to a parkway. He says now is the time for the state to act.
"We want the Department of Transportation to issue a plan to downgrade the Scajacquada from a highway to a parkway. No more time for excuses this conversation has been going to long and we don't want another tragedy," said Ryan.
Meantime the group says they plan to hold a march and vigil Tuesday nightand launch a petition drive to make sure that message is heard loud and clear.