LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Two pedestrians lost their lives in separate incidents over the weekend while walking along busy Louisville roads.

Their deaths are shedding light on longstanding concerns about the lack of sidewalks and proper lighting in certain areas.

One of the victims, 61-year-old Tina Quigg, was hit and killed Friday morning while crossing Fern Valley Road near Interstate 65. She died at the scene. Another woman was killed less than 24 hours later while walking along Valley Station Road near Grafton Hall Road in the early hours of Saturday.

Then, a man died at UofL Hospital after being hit by a vehicle in the 2900 block of Fern Valley Road just after 6 p.m. Monday, according to Louisville Metro Police.

The tragedies highlight the dangers pedestrians face on roads without adequate infrastructure.

For Matthew Sanford, who walks daily on Fern Valley Road to get to work, the risks are all too familiar.

“This intersection is mad dangerous,” said Sanford. “There’s no place for pedestrians to get over that bridge, so it's kind of, I’m kind of gambling with my life every morning.”

Sanford crosses the busy overpass of I-65, where sidewalks are nonexistent, and pedestrians are left to navigate either the narrow shoulder or the roadway itself.

“When I cross the street, a lot of times people don’t stop to wait for you to finish crossing the street," he said. "They’ll just turn right there. There’s, like, no common courtesy at this intersection for whatever reason.” 

The lack of sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure isn’t limited to Fern Valley Road. In Valley Station, where the second fatality occurred, pedestrians face similar challenges. Sparse sidewalks force people to walk through grass or on the street itself, increasing the likelihood of crashes.

“You’re walking through grass. You might even be walking on the street. It’s kind of crazy that there’s no sidewalks,” Sanford said.

Louisville’s Vision Zero initiative, aimed at reducing traffic fatalities, reports that more than 30 pedestrians have died on city roads so far this year, with more than 60 others injured. Fern Valley Road alone has been the site of four pedestrian deaths in 2024, with Monday's victim bringing that number up to five.

The program tracks traffic fatalities to identify and address problem areas needing improvements.

City officials urge pedestrians to follow safety guidelines, such as walking facing traffic, crossing only at intersections, and wearing bright or reflective clothing. Drivers are also encouraged to be vigilant and yield to pedestrians.

“Watch out for pedestrians,” Sanford emphasized, hoping to prevent further tragedies.

To learn more about Vision Zero, click here.

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