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A GoFundMe page has been launched for three Philadelphians who were struck by a hit-and-run driver at Broad and Dickinson Streets earlier this month.

In support of Stefanie McMillan and two of her daughters, the page was created about a week after a Philly.com article, titled Philadelphia’s other violence epidemicshed light on “Our neighbors and children [that] are hit by vehicles while crossing Philadelphia’s streets with alarming frequency.”

“On Monday, February 2, 2016, Stefanie McMillan and two of her daughters were crossing Dickinson Street (at Broad Street) and were struck by a car who fled the scene. The driver is still at large. Stefanie and her girls were transported to local hospitals with serious injuries and are now at home recovering,” reads the page.

“Many families in the South Philly area and beyond were shaken by the news and want to help Stefanie and her girls as they heal from this devastating accident. This campaign was created for that purpose,” the page, set up by Suzanne Cilli, continues. “The funds raised for this campaign will help the McMillans with lost wages and medical bills.”

The McMillan family is in for a long battle—both for their physical and financial health. And unfortunately, this is becoming a more common occurrence. Philadelphia families are increasingly at risk of being struck and suffering injury, or death, by hit-and-run drivers.

As the philly.com article notes, 1,548 Philadelphians were injured by drivers in 2014—400 of whom were under the age of 15.

According to statistics the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia received from the Philadelphia Police Department, there were six hit-and-run crash fatalities in 2014.

In 2015, that number nearly doubled, to 11, as of November 30th.

We’re nervously optimistic that these trends can be reversed. Common-sense solutions like red light cameras, speed cameras, road diets and putting in bike lanes have been proven to calm traffic and prevent traffic crashes.

This is not to say aspects of Vision Zero or a better Complete Streets plan would have prevented this particular hit-and-run crash. It’s impossible to predict the behavior of a driver who would willingly flee the scene of a crash they caused.

But nevertheless, it’s time Philly enacts the recommendations in the Better Mobility Platform, Vision Zero report and the Kenney Transition platform to begin putting an end to this mess.

To donate to the GoFundMe Page in support of the McMillan family, click here.

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