In an attempt to shed light on hit and run accidents in St. Louis, and specifically two hit and run accidents that have occurred on South Broadway in St. Louis just south of Busch Stadium, Chemistry Multimedia organized a press conference and candlelight vigil on July 28^th with the families of two of the victims – this date signified the 30 day anniversary memorial for Bapi Gupta’s tragic death on South Broadway.

Significant media coverage was obtained from the St. Louis Post Dispatch, FOX 2 News, KSDK Channel 5 News, KMOV and KMOX.

Genie Dee, Bapi Gupta’s mother, and Georgie Busch, Amber Wood’s mother, gave an impassioned plea to community leaders and the media about immediate changes that are needed to South Broadway, so there are “No New Victims!” Both the press conference and the candlelight vigil were on the one month anniversary of the hit and run accident that took Bapi’s life. An announcement was also made regarding the Bicycle and Pedestrian Initiative (B.A.P.I.), which is an effort to make South Broadway and St. Louis safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. The goal of B.A.P.I. is to prevent a similar tragedy from falling upon any other family.

Those responsible for Bapi’s hit and run accident have been apprehended and charged. However, the person responsible for Amber’s death in 2012 is still at large. An individual has been charged with attempting to destroy evidence after the vehicle that police suspect hit Wood was found in a scrap yard in Illinois and is tentatively set to go to trial in October. Crime Stoppers is still offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction in the death of Amber.

Supporters of B.A.P.I would like to see several improvements on South Broadway, including more police, reduced speed limits, more crosswalks and another stoplight. According to Alderman Jack Coatar, many steps will be taken to address the issue in the next couple of months. A pedestrian crosswalk will be installed at Cerre Street with a signal button, along with curb cuts and better lighting.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, 947 fatal hit and run incidents occurred within the United States in 2013.  Below is a list of Hit and Run victims in St. Louis since January, 2015. This list does not include Bapi Gupta, who was the 13^th victim.  We are calling on YOU to spread the word that St. Louis needs “No New Victims!”