Henry Dang
Henry Dang
Friday, October 29, 2010
Age: 15
Location:
Spring and West Streets
Windsor Locks , CT
United States
from the Hartford Courant
Memorial Returned To Site Of Fatal Crash In
Windsor Locks
'Ghost
Bicycle' Marks Where Henry Dang Was KilledSeptember 06, 2011|By
KIM VELSEY, kvelsey@courant.com, The Hartford Courant
WINDSOR
LOCKS - - A "ghost bike" memorial has been reinstalled near the site of
the fatal crash that killed local teenager Henry Dang after some
residents expressed disappointment over the memorial's removal.
The
makeshift memorial, at Spring and West streets, was removed in
mid-August for safety reasons, according to First Selectman Steve
Wawruck. Wawruck said that he had received calls from neighbors worried
about teenagers congregating at the busy street corner, where the
bicycle was chained to a utility pole, alongside stuffed animals,
pictures and other mementos.
Dang
was bicycling home on Oct. 29 when police said that he was struck by
Windsor Locks police Officer Michael Koistinen. Koistinen has since been
charged with manslaughter and fired from the department.
Selectman
Denise Balboni said she pressed for the return of the bicycle, which
had been stored by the public works department since its removal, after
hearing from "many, many, many residents" who wanted it returned.
"Ghost
bikes," installed at the site of a fatal crash and often painted white,
are a common way of memorializing bicyclists' deaths, much like
roadside crosses, and also serve as a reminder for motorists to drive
carefully.
"Given the effect this [crash] had on the community, I
think there should have been more opportunity for public comment," said
Balboni of the decision to remove the memorial.
During the board
of selectmen's meeting Tuesday night, resident Mickey Danyluk said, "I
have stood at the corner with our young people in silent support. ... I
am pleased to see the memorial bike back in place."
Wawruck said
that after receiving about a dozen phone calls and emails from residents
who wanted the bicycle returned to the site, he spoke with Sandy
Concepcion, whose lawn abuts the crash site, about reinstalling the
memorial a safe distance from the road on her property.
"Although
safety was the prevailing concern, people felt that we were trying to
cover it up or gloss it over," said Wawruck.
Concepcion agreed to
host a memorial, where it was reinstalled several yards away from the
original site on Friday, according to Wawruck. With the anniversary of
the crash approaching, both Balboni and Wawruck said that there was a
strong desire for a place to gather in remembrance of Dang.
"I
don't think people wanted it to be a long time before there's another
memorial," said Balboni. The youth services department is still working
with the high school to create a permanent memorial.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Age: 15
Location:
Spring and West Streets
Windsor Locks , CT
United States
from the Hartford Courant
Memorial Returned To Site Of Fatal Crash In
Windsor Locks
'Ghost
Bicycle' Marks Where Henry Dang Was KilledSeptember 06, 2011|By
KIM VELSEY, kvelsey@courant.com, The Hartford Courant
WINDSOR
LOCKS - - A "ghost bike" memorial has been reinstalled near the site of
the fatal crash that killed local teenager Henry Dang after some
residents expressed disappointment over the memorial's removal.
The
makeshift memorial, at Spring and West streets, was removed in
mid-August for safety reasons, according to First Selectman Steve
Wawruck. Wawruck said that he had received calls from neighbors worried
about teenagers congregating at the busy street corner, where the
bicycle was chained to a utility pole, alongside stuffed animals,
pictures and other mementos.
Dang
was bicycling home on Oct. 29 when police said that he was struck by
Windsor Locks police Officer Michael Koistinen. Koistinen has since been
charged with manslaughter and fired from the department.
Selectman
Denise Balboni said she pressed for the return of the bicycle, which
had been stored by the public works department since its removal, after
hearing from "many, many, many residents" who wanted it returned.
"Ghost
bikes," installed at the site of a fatal crash and often painted white,
are a common way of memorializing bicyclists' deaths, much like
roadside crosses, and also serve as a reminder for motorists to drive
carefully.
"Given the effect this [crash] had on the community, I
think there should have been more opportunity for public comment," said
Balboni of the decision to remove the memorial.
During the board
of selectmen's meeting Tuesday night, resident Mickey Danyluk said, "I
have stood at the corner with our young people in silent support. ... I
am pleased to see the memorial bike back in place."
Wawruck said
that after receiving about a dozen phone calls and emails from residents
who wanted the bicycle returned to the site, he spoke with Sandy
Concepcion, whose lawn abuts the crash site, about reinstalling the
memorial a safe distance from the road on her property.
"Although
safety was the prevailing concern, people felt that we were trying to
cover it up or gloss it over," said Wawruck.
Concepcion agreed to
host a memorial, where it was reinstalled several yards away from the
original site on Friday, according to Wawruck. With the anniversary of
the crash approaching, both Balboni and Wawruck said that there was a
strong desire for a place to gather in remembrance of Dang.
"I
don't think people wanted it to be a long time before there's another
memorial," said Balboni. The youth services department is still working
with the high school to create a permanent memorial.