A Flushing street was co-named on Friday in honor of Allison Hope Liao, a 3-year-old who was fatally hit by a car two years ago while crossing the street with her grandmother.
The northeast corner of Main Street and Cherry Avenue will now be also be known as Allison Hope Liao Way. Councilman Peter Koo sponsored the legislation co-naming the street.
State Senator Toby Stavisky also attended the unveiling, along with Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz, city Department of Transportation Assistant Commissioner for Education and Outreach Kim Wiley-Schwartz and Liao’s parents, Amy Tam-Liao and Hsi-Pei Liao.
Koo said that he hoped that drivers passing the location will recall the poignant message that no distracting behavior behind the wheel is worth the life of another.
“Her death, and the subsequent advocacy by her parents, spurred impassioned traffic safety campaigns across the city to ensure similar tragedies are avoided in the future,” he said. “With today’s unveiling, Allison Hope Liao will live on in the hearts and minds of our community for years to come.”
The Liao family was instrumental in lowering the city’s default speed limit after the death of their daughter, with the tragedy serving as one of the catalysts for the foundation of the Vision Zero set of traffic and street safety initiatives.
Liao’s parents have also helped to form “Families for Safe Streets,” an advocacy group of people affected by traffic violence.
The Liao family said although they lost their daughter in that spot, it was also where their advocacy in her memory started and that is why they were choosing to remember that corner.
“Sharing her story helped lower the speed limit, was influential in passing the right of way law and increased the number of safety cameras that monitor speed,” the Liao family said.
