A grieving community demands answers, accountability, and long-overdue safety improvements on a notoriously dangerous road
We were shocked and saddened to learn about the events that unfolded during Sunday’s protest and march in memory of 13-year-old Terrel Byars Jr., who was struck and killed by a driver as he walked across Kennywood Blvd (West Mifflin) in late December 2025.
Terrel’s friends and family said they were marching to seek answers and justice for his death, and for safety improvements to the notoriously dangerous street. “I wanted to do a peaceful protest so I could get answers, so I could get my voice heard about what’s going on with my son because I’m not getting the answers that I want or need,” said Naomi White, Terrel’s mother.
With emerging details, reports say that Duquesne police escorted the group, which included adults with kids, from Duquesne to the borough line. That is when the West Mifflin police confrontation began, and ended with pepper spray and six arrests.
Kennywood Blvd, or Route 837, is a PennDOT road that has seen multiple pedestrian fatalities over the past several years, with little being done to improve conditions. Despite multiple transit stops, businesses, and employment centers such as Kennywood Park, the 4-lane road has no sidewalks and very few crossings, forcing people to walk in the street and shoulder of the road. This creates dangerous conditions for all road users, especially pedestrians and transit users.
People are desperate for answers and justice, especially when grieving. While the investigation into Terrel’s death is still ongoing and can take many months, too often drivers are not held fully accountable for the harm they cause, and the municipalities creating hostile road conditions do not act to make necessary safety improvements. When the flow of motor vehicles consistently takes precedence over the safety of people outside of those vehicles, we should not be surprised when people feel they need to demand solutions.
Video footage (content warning: graphic violence) shows that the police response to the protest was extreme. We’re continuing to learn more about what happened in real time, but this appeared to be a moment where de-escalation was possible, especially given that many attendees were present with small children. Instead, the situation escalated with the use of force, including pepper spray. Six people are now facing charges and must navigate the justice system as a result.
We ask that charges be dropped for the six people who were arrested. We also call for the investigation into Terrel Byars Jr’s death to be thoroughly completed in a timely manner. Additionally, municipalities and our transportation departments have an obligation to center the safety of our most vulnerable road users — people who walk, roll, take transit, or ride a bike to get to where they need to go — ensuring the safety of all road users, especially those who cannot or do not drive. Kennywood Blvd, where the sidewalks end, is clearly unsafe, and it is long past the time to fix it.
Background
- Pittsburgh-area teen fatally struck by vehicle was “going to be something special,” family says
- 13-year-old boy dies at hospital after being hit by vehicle in West Mifflin
- East Allegheny sixth grader fatally struck by car in West Mifflin
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