Help Seek Justice for a Change.org Member's Death

Kenniss Henry is not a person who accepts the status quo.

That's what she taught her daughter, Natasha Pettigrew, and that's why Ms. Pettigrew—at the young age of 30—decided to run for the U.S. Senate under Maryland's Green Party ticket last fall. That's also why both Kenniss and Natasha joined Change.org more than a year ago.

Natasha Pettigrew died last September in the middle of her political campaign. Training for a triathlon, she was out riding her bicycle in the early morning. An SUV struck and killed her in a hit-and-run accident in Maryland's Prince George's County.

At the time, we paid tribute to the inspiring example of Natasha Pettigrew's tragically short life. We also talked with her mother, Ms. Henry, who continued on with the Senate race in her daughter's name and vowed to work to make the streets safer for cyclists. Finally, we wrote a petition to support Kenniss Henry in her quest, which she has since adopted as her own.

In the ensuing months, as more than 1,900 people have signed the petition, Ms. Henry has had incredible success. She's gone back and forth to Annapolis lobbying the Maryland legislature, and recently worked with the advocacy group Bike Maryland along with several other dedicated victims' relatives in getting new state legislation—HB 363, the Vehicular Manslaughter Act—introduced this year.

The bill would close a major loophole in the law. Currently in Maryland, if a flagrantly reckless but sober driver causes a death, he or she will pay no more than $1,000 in fines through traffic court (the only other option is a felony charge, which basically never happens because the standards of proof are so high). The new bill would introduce a misdemeanor option—punishable by up to 3 years in jail or a $5,000 fine—for those who cause fatalities by driving in a dangerously reckless manner when sober. According to Bike Maryland, Maryland police chiefs and the American Automobile Association have weighed in with their support for the bill.

Ms. Henry still does not know what will happen in her daughter's case. She's been told by the state attorney office that the investigation of the driver's actions could take up to a year, which is not uncommon.

She does not want to wait for the outcome. "I'm going to use my time wisely and try to increase support for this bill," Ms. Henry said.

In Maryland and around the country, it is scarily common for reckless drivers who injure or kill pedestrians or cyclists to avoid serious punishments. Sometimes, it's that politicians fear accusations of sending "grannies to jail." But Ms. Henry counters that it would take a finding of negligence to enact these sorts of harsher penalties.

"For the rest of my life I'm never going to be grandmother. And I'm never going to be a mother anymore, either" Kenniss says.

There is a major movement among walking and cycling advocates to increase vehicular manslaughter penalties. Few people want to bike or walk when they feel unsafe on the road. And the roads won't ever be safe until drivers know they will face stiff, meaningful penalties for 'accidents' caused by reckless behavior.

HB 363 is scheduled for a hearing in the Maryland House of Delegates on Wednesday, February 23rd. The day before, next Tuesday, Bike Maryland is having a full day symposium and plans to lobby for the bill. Bike Maryland will also be presenting these petition signatures as part of its efforts (if you live in Maryland, consider going to Annapolis for the day to attend the free symposium).

Please support Kenniss Henry's petition. It's not only an extremely important issue. It's also to support the ideals that one Change.org member stood for.

Follow Change.org's Environment page on Facebook,  Twitter or RSS. Have a story tip? E-mail us at environmenttips@change.org.