PHILADELPHIA, PA – May 11, 2026 − Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Nick Miller (D-14) hosted a policy hearing on accident prevention and the Jay Alerts pilot program with House Policy Chairman Ryan Bizzaro, Senator Anthony Williams, and Representative Morgan Cephas.
The hearing included testimony from community members, first responders, law enforcement, local activists and health care workers about the impact of the deductions and the legislation that Senator Anthony Williams and Representative Cephas plan to introduce.
“Today’s hearing shed light on the devastating reality families face after a car accident and reinforced why stronger action is needed across Pennsylvania to hold criminals accountable and provide justice for victims,” said Senator Miller. “Traffic accidents are becoming a growing public safety issue across the state, leaving too many families searching for answers. From the testimony we heard, it is clear that strengthening and modernizing the law, including implementing Senator Williams’ Jay Alerts legislation, is essential to increase urgency, public awareness and prevention so that no family waits in the dark after a tragedy.”
“For years, I have worked with families who deal with the effects of hit-and-runs on a daily basis,” said Senator Anthony Williams. “I have seen firsthand the devastation these accidents leave in our communities. We cannot accept a system that allows criminals to simply disappear. By working with Philadelphia auto repair shops and improving communication, this pilot program gives us a real tool to quickly identify perpetrators and prevent future tragedies.”
Daniel Farley, director of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Office of Operations, testified about the impact of the crashes.
“In 2025, PennDOT statewide data shows that 7,736 traffic crashes resulted in 65 deaths and 323 serious injuries,” Farley said. “In 2025, there were 1,706 traffic crashes in Philadelphia County, resulting in 32 deaths and 128 grave injuries. PennDOT expects our law enforcement partners to investigate alleged hit-and-runs. Safety is the Department’s top priority and we appreciate the tools to combat this ongoing problem and strive to be helpful whenever possible to our law enforcement partners and community leaders.
Elizabeth Hocker of Families for Safe Streets in Philadelphia shared the story of her son Damien, who was killed on April 16, 2024, as a result of a hit-and-run while walking home from the gym at the age of 17. He was less than three blocks from his father’s house when he was hit while crossing the street, with her only child in tow.
“Walking is a fundamental freedom that allows greater access to our communities,” Hocker said. “All people should be able to move around their neighborhood safely, but my son never made it home. We all want our children to be safe on their way to and from school, to friends’ houses and to sports games. We all want to cross the street to the supermarket or ride our bike to work without fearing for our lives. These tragic losses impact all of our families and ultimately tear apart the fabric of our communities. When accidents happen, we all deserve justice for our loved ones and community members.”
Angela McDonald, who has been with the Philadelphia Police Department for 25 years, shared the story of her youngest child and only son, Mark McDonald Ringgold. On July 31, 2025, he was struck in a hit-and-run in West Philadelphia while walking home from work, just two blocks from his home. He was declared brain dead at Presbyterian Hospital and died the next day, two weeks before his 33rd birthday.
“I stand before you today because I truly believe that the Jay Alert system would certainly be a great asset in helping law enforcement,” McDonald said. “This would enable the assistance needed to resolve more accidents from the scene more quickly and effectively if implemented in law because an experienced patrol officer with 25 years of experience who has dealt with many car accidents by the time they arrive at the scene of an accident, tow truck drivers are usually already on scene, depending on the distance you are driving, by the time they arrive the tow truck drivers are already hooked up to the vehicles and are ready to tow them to the repair shop or auto repair shop, and body shop owners are unaware of the nature of the accident in which the vehicle was involved, whether it was a car, a person or a car, a cyclist. Thanks to this system, they will be aware of vehicles wanted by the police that have been involved in road accidents.
Megan Eskuchen, executive assistant at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), spoke about her community service as an ambassador for Vision Zero Philadelphia, which aims to prevent deaths and grave injuries across the city.
“Hi-kill accidents are extremely harmful. In addition to physical injuries, they leave families without answers and accountability,” Eskuchen said. “As this hearing highlights, every year in Pennsylvania, dozens of people are killed in traffic accidents and hundreds more are seriously injured. These are not just statistics – they represent children who never returned home, families dealing with lifelong trauma, and communities left searching for solutions.”
Jasmine Hoffman, Pennsylvania’s Safe Roads PAC, spoke about her work to bring public attention to Jay Alerts and advocated for legislation to make them a reality.
“Jay Alerts will not only support law enforcement, but also enable the public to stay informed and engage in keeping their neighborhood safe,” Hoffman said. “Rapid, targeted notifications can prevent further harm, encourage witnesses to come forward, and build a stronger connection between communities and public safety agencies.”
Those testifying at the hearing were:
- Families affected by hit and runs
- 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania
Senator Nick Miller was elected political chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus in December 2024.
Video footage of the hearing and written testimony from the panel is available at: PASenatorMiller.com/Policy. Downloadable photos and videos are available upon request.
Learn more about AP Senate Democrats’ commitment to protecting our Commonwealth’s health care needs and other legislative priorities at www.pasenate.com.
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A Commonwealth-wide problem
Affected families
Community action
