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Parents of 4-year-old killed in Seaport crash starting foundation in her memory
4-year-old Gracie Gancheva was killed on March 24 at the intersection of Congress and Sleeper after leaving the Boston Children's Museum with her family.
The family of the 4-year-old struck and killed by a pickup truck near the Boston Children’s Museum in March said they’re looking to start a foundation in their daughter’s honor to improve pedestrian safety.
Gracie Gancheva was killed on March 24 at the intersection of Congress and Sleeper in Fort Point. Officials said she was with her family visiting Boston at the time.
Parents Andy Newman-Gonchar and Gina Gancheva told a local television station that they’re raising money to advocate for pedestrian safety in Gracie’s name. Money given to the GoFundMe will also go towards creating a memorial garden.
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“What we’d like to do is to secure a foundation in Gracie’s name so that we can drive awareness around pedestrian safety, make sure that we are all living in safer communities where our children can safely cross the street,” Gancheva told Channel 7.
Newman-Gonchar and Gancheva told WHDH that Gracie, their youngest daughter, was hit after visiting the Boston Children’s Museum. After the crash, the museum called for change at the busy intersection, located near the Congress Street Bridge in the Seaport District. President and CEO Carole Charnow said the intersection has historically had issues “related to speed and sight lines.”
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Boston officials, including Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, met with neighbors after Gracie’s death to discuss the problematic area.
Officials announced some short term fixes, including removing a parking space and adding flex poles for increased visibility for drivers.
But Congress Street is already undergoing a redesign to improve sidewalks, crosswalks, and street lighting. The project will also include a raised crosswalk over Sleeper Street, where Gracie was struck, and raised crosswalks over Farnsworth and Stillings streets.
“I can’t accept the idea that four-year-olds can be killed on our streets,” Boston’s Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge said in March.
The GoFundMe, has raised nearly $40,000 as of Monday evening, will go directly to honoring the 4-year-old through advocacy and memorials.
“I don’t want another family to have to go through this,” Newman-Gonchar said.
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