Family of teen killed in hit‑and‑run sees first safety upgrades on MacDade Boulevard
The parents of 17-year-old Damien Hocker, who was struck and killed in a hit-and-run on MacDade Boulevard, are beginning to wake up to the safety changes they have called for since his death.
Damien was walking on MacDade Boulevard and Fairview Road in April 2024 when he was struck.
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His family spent months petitioning and meeting with local and state leaders, urging them to make the corridor safer for pedestrians.
“It feels good to know that something is being done that could potentially save the lives of other children or other pedestrians,” said his mother, Elizabeth Hocker.
She said the intersection now includes “no turning on red” signs and repainted crosswalks.”
A pedestrian signal is also planned to give walkers a head start before vehicles are given the green light.
“It allows cars to see them better and it increases the safety of pedestrian traffic,” she said.
SEE ALSO | Parents call for safety changes after son was fatally hit by car in Ridley Township
The new signal will be similar to the one already installed on MacDade Boulevard and Morton Avenue. Crews also added “no turning red” and yield signs in this area, another area where Damien’s parents had called for changes.
“It’s about preventing this from happening in the future,” said his father, Doug Hocker. “We still have a lot of his friends who live around here and walk a lot. They’re worried.”
Damien’s grandmother, Suzanne de Seife, said the family also speaks at schools and community events to promote safety and distributes reflective gear.
“We want drivers to be careful, of course, but even young people need to be careful because we don’t want anyone else to die in an accident, be seriously injured or suffer like Damien suffered,” she said.
The family said their plea reflected Damien’s character.
“Damien was always that kid who walked people home to keep them safe and care about his friends,” his father said.
His mother added: “I think he would be very proud of both of us for the things we have done. I think he would understand that the big motivation for us is love for him.”
Elizabeth Hocker said the township recently received a grant to build pedestrian islands, flashing beacons and other improvements along MacDade Boulevard.
She also serves on the board of PA Safe Roads PAC and is a member of Families for Safe Streets, where she supports legislation including intelligent speed assist systems, which can be installed in any vehicle to limit speeds and prevent reckless driving. It also supports the JayAlert HitAndRun system, which would notify auto body shops of fatal hit-and-runs.
The driver who killed Damien was sentenced Friday to three to six years in prison.
