Local

City dedicates new sidewalk at site where 2 brothers were killed

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There's a new sidewalk in place where two young brothers were hit and killed two years ago while walking with their father in west Charlotte.

"There's nothing I can say that can ever be the right words for the loss of two children," said District 3 Councilwoman Lawana Mayfield.

While it was difficult to find words, there was action as city leaders dedicated the completion of a new sidewalk off Shady Lane and West Tyvola Road.

It was only grass along Shady Lane where 5-year-old Kadrien Pendergrass and his brother, 1-year-old Jeremy Brewton Jr., were hit by a Sears truck and killed while walking with their dad.

A tree was planted near the site in their memory.

Although it took two years to get the sidewalks installed, Mayfield said similar projects usually take five to seven years to complete.

She credits teamwork from various agencies and the support of neighbors with getting the project on the fast track.

Channel 9 spoke to a man who moved down the street from the site about four months ago.  He said he immediately asked about the makeshift memorial, now faded with time.

After hearing what happened to the two young brothers two years ago, he's glad something is in place now that could help save a life in the future.

"I don't want that, I hate for little children to get hurt," a neighbor said.

Mayfield said now that the sidewalk is finished, she plans to talk to her colleagues about adding a crosswalk to provide another way for people to cross the street safely and warn drivers to slow down.
 
The sidewalk project cost $344,000. The city was able to use funds left over from another project to cover the cost and speed up construction.