Saturday memorial bus ride to honor Henrico teen killed by drunk driver, highlight traffic safety
A memorial public bus ride this Saturday in memory of Joshua Driver, a Henrico teenager who was fatally struck by a drunk driver on West Broad Street near Willard Road last month, is meant to raise awareness about the dangers to pedestrians.
“He was a 16-year-old who should be more than a statistic,” said Sonya Duer one of the organizers of the memorial through her grass roots organization Operation Reflect.
She started Operation Reflect a little more than a year ago to bring awareness to pedestrians’ safety. Whether walking, riding a bike or scooter, Operation Reflect has organized events to raise awareness of dangers pedestrians face.
While not related to Driver, Duer and her sister (Helen Shinault) started Operation Reflect to remember Duer’s nephew and Shinault’s son, Devin Riley Pulver, who was struck by a driver while on his way home from a church Halloween celebration on Oct. 30, 2024 when he was 17-years-old.
“He was the sweetest young man I have ever known,” Operation Reflect’s social media page recounts about Devin. “He was riding his skateboard at the time of the accident. It was dark, and Devin was wearing dark clothing and no reflective gear.
"When he was hit, so was his mother. Hit with the pain of never being able to talk to her youngest son again. She was hit with the reality that nothing would ever be the same. She was hit with the tragedy of mourning her baby. Our entire family has mourned this horrific loss and tragedy. We want to spare others from the pain and devastation that this has caused to our family.”
Duer and Driver's families are not alone in experiencing tragic traffic fatalities. She counts more than two dozen pedestrian fatalities in the region this year.
Their advocacy translates to Duer and Shinault distributing reflective vests to help pedestrian visibility.
Duer and Pulver, in an act of support through Operation Reflect, hosted a walk to remember Joshua and helped his parents create a memorial at the eastbound intersection of West Broad Street and Willard Road, where he was hit by a drunk driver in the early hours of May 23, near his home.
Bold signs that even drivers speeding by can read say “KILLED BY A DRUNK DRIVER” and “DRUNK DRIVING KILLS” surrounded by blue flowers and other items that Joshua enjoyed – a bottle of sweet tea, candy, toys and cartoon characters.
“We understand what Joshua’s family is going through, and as a parent what they are going through. Some days are normal and some days you can’t function,” said Duer who regularly contacts Joshua’s mother Sharon who relates her feelings of hurt and depression. “It’s the normal grief process.”
A close up of the roadside memorial for Joshua Driver, a Henrico teen who was killed by a drunk driver last month, at the intersection of Broad Street and Willard Road (left) and a flyer taped to the side of the electrical box announces a memorial bus ride
At the Saturday memorial event which originates at 11;30 a.m. from the Merchants Walk shopping center, people will board GRTC bus No. 19 either eastbound to Willow Lawn or westbound to Short Pump, a route that Joshua frequented.
Duer will bring signs and people are encouraged to wear dark blue, Joshua’s favorite color as well as bring signs about traffic safety, pictures of the teen and his favorite Mario or Minion character toys.
“It will be a silent ride,” Duer said.
Buses are crucial to the Driver family as they rely on them for transportation for shopping and other necessities, being short funds to fix their vehicle. This sometimes requires the family to take three or four buses.
“Thank god the bus is still free,” Duer said.
Duer hopes the event will raise awareness, inviting the public to participate as well to acknowledge Joshua’s life and the need for more road safety on Henrico’s streets.
“We want to spare others from the pain and devastation that this has caused to our family.
While Duer offers emotional support to families who have lost members on the streets, she is also advocating for policy and infrastructure changes.
On the Operation Reflect site she encourages other people to give input to Henrico County’s Traffic Complaint webpage to get solar street lights “like they put up in Eastern Henrico” in Western Henrico pointing out the lack of pedestrian infrastructure from Horsepen Road to Lauderdale Drive at Short Pump Town Center.
The stretch of road that Joshua was walking does not have a sidewalk. But that is set to change. Henrico County public works is planning on installing pedestrian and transit improvements on West Broad Street.
Dina Weinstein is the Citizen’s community vitality reporter and a Report for America corps member, covering housing, health and transportation. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.
