Louisville families turn grief into action as they call for safer streets across the city

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Families in Louisville who have lost loved ones to traffic crashes gathered to remember, reflect and demand safer streets, turning grief into action.

For Donya Kurdi, the loss is still fresh. Her brother, 26-year-old Rakan Al Qudah, was killed by an impaired driver on July 10, 2024.

In his honor, she helped launch a Students Against Destructive Decisions chapter at the University of Louisville to empower young people to make safer choices.

“Students need to understand that their choices don't only affect their own lives, they affect somebody's son, someone's daughter, somebody's brother who finally made it home,” Kurdi said.

The pain is longstanding for others, like Janet Heston, whose 30-year-old son, Matthew Egger, was struck and killed while crossing New Cut Road