A Remembrance Walk was held at Riverfront Park on Saturday to keep the memories alive of those who have been killed due to impaired drivers.
“This walk was something I thought about doing,” said Gina Lance. “I posted it online and I was shocked at the response I received. I had seven people wanting to participate and remember their loved ones.”
Lance is the mother of Ashlyn Barnes, who was killed in May 2013 when the vehicle she was a passenger in struck a tree. The driver, Ramiro R. Ibarra, was intoxicated at the time and intentionally drove his SUV into a farm field off Vervilla Road and began off-roading which cause the wreck that claimed Barnes’ life.
Joining Lance were local families of Caitlin Talley and Angela Billings.
Talley was killed in October 2012. She was also a passenger in a vehicle that left the roadway. The driver, Cory Forrest Tate, lost control of his vehicle, left the roadway near the Shellsford Road intersection with Spencer Highway, and hit several trees before flipping. Talley was ejected.
Billings was killed in October 2000. She was checking the mailbox at her home on Kennedy Street when she was struck by a truck. The driver, Sonny Dale Simmons, topped a slight rise and left the roadway. Simmons crashed through a picket fence and three mailboxes, including the one where Billings stood.
Kendal Clark, Jess Marshall, Chris Dafoe, Samantha Downs and Brad Downs were also included in the walk after contacting Lance.
While no information is known about Clark and Marshall, the last three were killed in October 2007 in Gulfport, Miss. The newlyweds, Samantha and Brad, and their friend, Dafoe, were killed in a head-on collision after being hit by a car driven by Deborah Stewart.
The walk was held from 1 to 3 p.m. A table was established for the victims and their pictures were displayed.
Lance wants to make the Remembrance Walk an annual event. If anyone has lost a loved one due to an intoxicated driver and would like them included in next year’s event, Lance can be contacted at 615-684-5815.