Officials looking to improve safety along L Street following fatal crash

BOSTON — South Boston residents are calling for change after a horrific accident along L Street killed a 2-year-old boy and injured his 4-year-old sister.

Many have long said the street is unsafe and something needs to be done about it.

"I'm devastated, I am horrified," said Lauren Flaherty, a Southie resident.

On Wednesday afternoon, the children's nanny was pushing both on a stroller when a chain reaction crash sent a van traveling on L Street up over the curb and into the stroller.

A memorial has been set up where the crash happened, where many brought flowers, stuffed animals and balloons to say goodbye to the boy who was killed.

"I'm a mom myself too and I nanny them and treat them as my own, so it's heartbreaking," said Susanna Campos.

Other nannies that came to the memorial on Thursday said they often feel unsafe walking along L Street, which they say is narrow, choked with traffic and used by drivers as a shortcut to Downtown.

"You can't cross, they don't stop for you and as soon as they see the light there, they race to the light to get through," said Phyllis Simon, a Southie resident.

Police say speed was not a factor in the crash, but city officials say the transportation department is studying improvements to the road.

"Any given day on that street, it's packed with cars, people driving," said Mayor Marty Walsh.

Residents want speed bumps and stoplights, saying the best way to honor the little boy killed is by preventing future accidents.

"The residents have wanted better infrastructure for a very long time, we need to be heard, this is unacceptable, this is a crisis," said Flaherty.

Neighbors told Boston 25 News they are planning some sort of protest and may even block the street to call attention to the issue.

The family of Colin Thomas McGrath sent out a statement through the Boston Police Department, asking for privacy as they deal with the tragedy.

The full statement read:

"The members of the McGrath family would like to express our deepest appreciation for the outpouring of sympathy, compassion and support we have received these past few difficult days.  The many heartfelt words of encouragement and love, and the incredible gestures of kindness and generosity, from friends, colleagues and our community have served as a much-needed source of strength during this devastating time.

While we may have more to say at a later date, at this time we ask that the media and others interested in speaking with us please respect our family's need for privacy and give us the space and time we need to begin what we know will be a long healing process."

MORE: 2-year-old dead after two children hit by a car in South Boston

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