Parents mount online effort for traffic light - Dayton Daily News (08.16.06)

By Katherine Ullmer
Staff Writer
 
WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County - Hemant and Arti Garg, whose 6-year-old daughter, Yukta, was killed in a traffic crash July 26 on Ohio 725 at Garnet Drive, are using an online petition to keep others from losing their loved ones.

The Web site, www.ygmf.org, is seeking signatures to pressure the Ohio Department of Transportation to install a traffic light and reduce the speed limit to 35 mph. As of Tuesday evening, 292 people had signed.

Yukta was killed as the driver of the car she was in tried to cross four lanes of traffic to get to the Washington Twp. Recreation Center.

The Web site includes a letter expressing her parents' pain at being called to the scene of the crash. The site also shows a series of photos of their daughter and family in happier times. More than 500 people attended their daughter's funeral July 28, Hemant Garg said.

Garg said he also wants to take out the cut-through in the median so no one can try to cross Ohio 725. "By doing something maybe we can prevent or reduce the number of fatalities or injuries in the future," he said.

Washington Twp. Trustee Lee Snyder said the trustees have written ODOT. "We're not giving up on it," Snyder said. The trustees are also looking into moving the rec center entrance.

"The idea is to support Lee Snyder's case to ODOT," Garg said. "It will make his case stronger."

Petition signs are pleading for action.

"Please consider this petition for the future safety of others and a dedication to Yukta Garg," said a petition signer Cindy Niekamp.

"Please put a light in so that no other family has to suffer the loss of a child or other family member," said signer Melissa Moody.

His daughter's loss " has been very hard on the family," Garg said. "It should not happen to anybody else in the future."