Join BCGP, Families for Safe Streets Greater Philadelphia, and Jayanna Powell’s family on Thursday, August 17th from 3-4pm to raise awareness and support for Jay- Alert Legislation. Jay Alert would create an alert similar to an Amber Alert but would go to auto shops to look for cars involved in hit and run crashes resulting in fatality or serious injury.
Jayanna’s mom, Ayeshia Poole, and Poole’s sister Jasmine Hoffman came up with the idea for Jay-Alert after Jayanna Powell, 8, was killed while crossing 63rd and Lansdowne with her 3 siblings on November 18, 2016. The driver didn’t stop to see if the children were alright instead he fled the scene. It wasn’t until he brought his car to an auto shop in Chester County did the shop owner tip off the police.
My sister and I came up with “Jay Alert” in honor of Jayanna, to help solve hit and run cases, and most importantly so no mother has to go through what I went through. It’s one thing to lose a loved one in a traffic crash, it’s another to hear that the driver left your loved one and drove away. If Jay Alert existed in 2016 our family, the police, community and most importantly auto shops would have been aware and alert.
In 2017, State Senator Anthony Williams first introduced legislation for Jay Alert but year after year, the legislation hasn’t moved. This year, Senate Bill #730 passed out of the Law and Justice committee and has been referred to Appropriations. Please join us in supporting Jayanna’s family and Hit and Run victims everywhere on Thursday, August 17th from 3-4pm.