As Antioch Family Mourns Victim Killed In Hit & Run, City Removes Speed Bumps
ANTIOCH (KPIX 5) – As an elderly Antioch couple remembered their son killed in a hit-and-run last month, city crews removed speed bumps that volunteers installed to slow drivers down, saying they were illegal.
Monday was a day of mourning for 73-year-old Linda Hudson. She said goodbye to her son, 47-year-old Timothy Hudson, killed three weeks ago in a hit-and-run in front of her home. The 19-year-old suspected driver has been arrested.
Hudson never expected that while she was at the memorial service, Antioch city workers yanked up the speed bumps a group of men installed last week on West 11th Street as police stood by to head off any angry reaction. Workers also painted over 'slow down' signs painted on the asphalt.
By the time the Hudsons returned from the service, drivers were back to speeding down West 11th.
"I can't stand it. I cannot stand it. I want somebody to do something," Hudson told KPIX 5. "This can't go on. This wasn't right today."
Antioch's mayor declined an on-camera interview with KPIX 5. While the mayor said he is sorry for the family's loss, the mayor said they would need to follow proper protocols for installing a speed bump, including gathering the signatures of 75 percent of property owners in the area.
The Hudsons have already begun a petition drive. They said you haven't seen the last of those speed bumps.
"It will go back in, with or without the city. They'll be back in, bottom line," Hudson said.
In order to get the speed bumps installed legally, approvals would be needed by the police and fire departments and by nearby schools. A traffic study would also need to be performed.
