Jacob Wallace

Family of Man Killed by Hit-Run Driver Wants Safety Improvements on Southern Avenue

Joshua Lorenzo Williams was fatally struck by a driver who abandoned the car and ran away

The family of a man killed by a hit-and-run driver while trying to cross the street in Southeast D.C. over the weekend say changes need to be made to improve pedestrian safety.

Joshua Lorenzo Williams, 24, was fatally struck around midnight Friday while walking along Southern Avenue SE near Fort Circle Park. Police are still searching for the driver, who abandoned the car and ran away.

"For his life to be shaved at such a young age by a hit-and-run driver is completely unfortunate," Williams' uncle Demond Thompson said.

Residents in the area have described the road as a "speedway," and want changes made to prevent another unnecessary death.

Some people who live on Southern Avenue have even resorted to building extensions for their driveways so they don't have to pull in and out of Southern Avenue.

"It's hard to back out with cars just gunning down the street," one nearby resident said.

The family of Williams says they're hoping that the driver of the car will be found and arrested soon. Police already have a lead — the 2015 Buick Encore left behind at the scene.

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