BOWIE, Md. — The Bowie community is grieving for 14-year-old Kamal Nashid after he was hit and killed by a car Saturday afternoon.
Prince George's County Police said he was jogging across the crosswalk at the intersection of Church Road and Fairview Vista Drive Saturday, when a car struck him.
Now, passersby can see a trail of glass and debris leading to a bouquet of flowers in the meridian.
Police said Nashid ran out into the crosswalk before cars moving southbound along Church Road had stopped.
He first passed a red pickup truck, which police said did not him. But, police said when he made it into the second lane, a car struck him, leaving him with critical injuries.
Police said the car that struck him stayed at the scene, but the truck did not. Officials would like to speak with the driver to aid in the investigation.
The 14-year-old was later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to police.
Audrey Tetteh, who just moved into the neighborhood next to Church Road a month ago, said she saw the teen laying on the ground Saturday.
"I have two little ones of my own, and it’s really heartbreaking, especially on Father’s Day," said Tetteh. "There’s a lot of speeding on Church Road, I'm not going to live...There are lots of kids in this neighborhood. It’s a suburb. Slow down.”
Tetteh said her kids are four and nine, so she's hoping they'll be able to safely cross from one neighborhood to another when they're a little older.
Her neighbor, Merril Oliver, said Church Road, which at this intersection has a speed limit of 30mph, sees accidents all the time.
In fact, she said a couple of weeks ago, a car ran into some trees and an electric pole on the side of the road.
“We’re also angry…that this situation has been going on for more than three years, that the Homeowner’s Association has registered complaints, and nothing has been done," said Merril Oliver, who has lived in the new neighborhood for three years. "And now we have lost one of our children.”
Considering Church Road leads to Route 50, Oliver said it's well-traveled. So, she has a few suggestions on how to make the cobbled crosswalk safer.
“They need to either put a light in or speed bumps, a roundabout, clearly indicate the pedestrian crossings," said Oliver. "There are two of them there, with flashing lights so that drivers do slow down and respect the law.”
Otherwise, she fears having to leave another note like the one she left this morning, which reads:
One good person can touch more hearts than we'll ever know.
Anyone with information on this incident should call police at 301-731-4422. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call 866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com.
