RIDLEY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPVI) — The parents of 17-year-old Damien Hocker, who was struck and killed in a hit-and-run on MacDade Boulevard, are beginning to see the safety changes they have pushed for since his death.
Damien was walking on MacDade Boulevard and Fairview Road in April 2024 when he was hit.
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His family spent months petitioning and meeting with local and state leaders, urging them to make the corridor safer for pedestrians.
“It feels good to know that something is being done that could potentially save the lives of other children or other pedestrians,” his mother, Elizabeth Hocker, said.
She said the intersection now includes “the ‘no turn on red’ signs and the repainted crosswalks.”
A pedestrian signal is also planned to give walkers a head start before vehicles receive a green light.
“That allows cars to see them more and it does increase safety for pedestrian traffic,” she said.
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The new signal will be similar to one already installed at MacDade Boulevard and Morton Avenue. Crews have also added “no turn on red” and yield signs in that area, another location where Damien’s parents had called for changes.
“It’s about preventing this from happening in the future,” said his father, Doug Hocker. “We still have a lot of his friends who live around here and walk a lot. They’re worried.”
Damien’s grandmother, Suzanne de Seife, said the family also speaks at schools and community events to promote safety and hands out reflective gear.
“We want drivers to be careful, of course, but even young people have to be careful because we don’t want anyone else to die in a crash or be seriously injured or suffer the way Damien suffered,” she said.
The family said their advocacy reflects Damien’s character.
“Damien was always that kid walking people home to keep them safe, caring about his friends,” his father said.
His mother added, “I think he would be very proud of both of us for the things we’ve done. I think he would understand that the big motivator for us is love for him.”
Elizabeth Hocker said the township recently received a grant to build pedestrian islands, flashing beacons and other improvements along MacDade Boulevard.
She also serves on the board of PA Safe Roads PAC and is a member of Families for Safe Streets, where she supports legislation, including Intelligent Speed Assistance systems, which can be installed in any vehicle to limit speed and prevent reckless driving. She also supports the JayAlert HitAndRun System, which would notify auto body shops about fatal hit-and-run incidents.
The driver who killed Damien was sentenced Friday to three to six years in prison.
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