The parents of a 13-year-old girl hit and killed on Pacific Coast Highway 15 years ago are trying to raise awareness about distracted driving.
Michel and Ellen Shane started the Empty Chair Campaign in memory of their daughter, Emily.
“On April 3, 2010, a man driving his car at around 70 miles an hour on Pacific Coast Highway aimed his car at her and killed her,” Michel told KNX News’ Emily Valdez. “She got hit. She went in the air and literally was dead on arrival.”
The campaign started when Ellen accidentally set a place for Emily at the table after she had passed.
“The Office of Traffic Safety has embraced the campaign and will launch the campaign for the National Day of Remembrance of Members of Traffic Violence, which is November 16th,” Michel said. “We'll be doing a big event installation.”
Michel told Valdez that since Emily’s death, 62 people have been killed on PCH. Among those killed were four students at Pepperdine University.
On Oct. 17, 2023, Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir, and Deslyn Williams were killed after a driver struck three parked cars on PCH.
The Shanes say there are similarities between the deaths of the Pepperdine girls and Emily.
“They were just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Ellen said. “They weren't even in cars. They were standing. They were outside to go to an event, and Emily was just walking.
The driver in the case, Fraser Michael Bohm, has since been ordered to stand trial.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok