Family and friends of an FSU student killed in a car accident in April urged the Tallahassee City Commission to take more action to protect pedestrians around campus at a meeting Wednesday.
FSU sophomore Ellie Sims died in a car accident at the intersection of Pensacola and Lorene Street. That area in College Town sees heavy student foot traffic due to recent development, particularly during the school year.
John Sims, Ellie’s father, attended Wednesday’s City Commission meeting with his wife Kristen to share about their daughter.
“I wish you could have met her. She was awesome. The person inside was so much more than what you saw on the outside. She was a beautiful woman, but she had so much promise, and it was just such a bright light,” he said while choking back tears.
The Sims family and Ellie’s friends have been advocating for increased pedestrian traffic safety measures in the area. The city already plans to install raised crosswalks, illuminated crossing signs, and lower speed limits. Sims said he appreciates these steps but believes additional safety measures should be required around every new high-density student apartment built in the city.
“Consider honoring our daughter by passing an ordinance that mandates this type of consideration to traffic and pedestrian safety to be incorporated into these developments, and ensuring they are implemented from day one,” he said.
Kate Butler, a friend of Ellie’s, is calling for a traffic light to be installed at the intersection where Ellie lost her life
“Ellie’s death was a wake-up call for the community regarding the unsafe pedestrian conditions around campus. Let’s take action in her memory and safeguard the streets and students. No parent, sibling, family member, or friend should ever suffer the loss of a loved one, especially due to something as preventable as unsafe roads,” she said.
Gainesville implemented similar changes around the University of Florida’s campus in 2021 after multiple students died in car accidents near newly constructed student housing.
