AHS student killed
Albemarle High School student Sydney Aichs, 16, died this morning at 7:08am when she made a left turn in her Chevy Cavalier onto U.S. 29 north from Ashwood Boulevard and was struck by a tractor trailer. Kenneth Barber, 54, was the driver and charges are pending.
44 comments
This is just so sad!
I hope the family may draw some measure of comfort knowing that others care and share in their loss. Condolences to the family!
only the good die young..
Im deeply sadden by this tragedy Sydeny was a great girl and my prayers go out to her family! Stay strong Kyle
As a parent my heart goes out to the family. There are no words to take away that saddness.
My heart is broken for the Aichs family. We knew Sydney, as she and our daughter had previously played soccer together. What a wonderful person! There are no words or actions that can take away the crippling pain brought on by the death of one's child. If the truck driver involved in this accident is found guilty of something, the penalty needs to be severe. In addition, all who constantly exceed the speed limit through this intersection need to take a long, shameful look in the mirror. Finally, to VDOT and the Albemarle Board of Supervisors, this never should have happened. When will you eliminate this roller coaster highway terrain in front of South Forest Lakes?
So sad to hear this. That intersection is so dangerous.
Having made that same turn literally about 2,000 times, I have thought many times of that particular left turn being dangerous especially with regard to trucks. The downward slope of 29 south into the light combined with the fact that you can't really see the light until fairly late made me really worry about those making a left turn onto 29 from there. Though I don't know that I ever saw an accident there, I saw trucks squeal to stops and end up in the middle of the intersection and others simply go right through red lights because they couldn't stop.
Something drastic needs to be done at the intersection and makin it an illegal left turn from Forest Lakes would NOT be overreacting...horribly inconvenient, but not an overreaction.
I did not know Sydney but was a senior her first year. After reading what happened my condolences go out to the family. I live in Forest Lakes and as I leave each morning and come to the light on Ashwood, I am always at a lost for why they have not fixed that steep drop or at least lowered the speed limit from 55 to 35. It seems the close of each school year is darken with some sort of tragedy. My prayers also go out to the driver of the tractor trailer, I can not even imagine what he and his family are going through. Having something like this on your conscience will punishment in itself. My prayers and thoughts are with both families during this difficult time.
I just wanted to let family and friends know i am so sorry for your loss. My deepest sympathy.
As a junior at albemarle high school i have know sydney since middle school and as i ended my AP United states history exam this morning Dr. Haas came in and told us this devistating news. Sydney you will be missed and our prayers go out to you and your family! We will miss you so much, and never forget you!!!! love you babe!
kelly
My sincere condolences to the Aichs family. Merely imagining what you must be experiencing is incredibly painful. What a tragedy.
I have always wondered why that intersection was allowed to happen. So much about the planning(?) of infrastructure and transportation north of town is stupid. Now we see that stupidity is incalculable in its cost. No amount of legal action can repay that cost, but it sure could reduce its future impact. The idiots who allow this sort of dangerous arrangement of traffic lights and lack of visibility will probably never be held accountable, but the people who come after should be held accountable for the failure to change these situations. At the least, the top of that hill should be removed. Whatever the cost may be, the cost of not doing it has already been far greater.
This is a very sad time for many people. I am so very for the loss of Sydney Aich. I didn't know her, but when I found out about it this morning, I started to cry. Today was definetly sad and I wish this never happend. My sympathy goes out to all of Sydney's family, friends, and everyone who knew her and loved her. Everyone should know that she is in a better place. May she rest in peace
I am so saddened to hear about the lost of another child. My condolences and prayers to the Aich family.
Our deepest condolences to Sydney's family and friends! May God Bless her family and friends! She is in a better place and will never be forgotten!
Albemarle County/City of Charlottesville,
How many accidents will it take to have something done?
Have you not realized this has been a SERIOUS PROBLEM for many years???
i'm so sorry to find out about this. i didn't know sydney but i still want to send out best wishes to those who did.
My father was hit in a similar situation at the same intersection about a year ago. He was more fortunate in the he managed to escape with only a few small injuries, but it goews to show the true danger of that intersection.
It's wierd. I was traveling to the exact same place as Sydney that morning, and had I arrived at the light a few moments earlier it could very well have been me. It could have been any of us, really.
My thoughts are with the Aichs family and the Barbour family.
This is so sad r.i.p sydney god bless her you will be in my prayers
Our thoughts and prayers go to the Aichs family, their own unique hell at this time, one that is unfathomable.
It is truly criminal negligence on the part of VDOT that the FL South intersection was ever allowed without alterations to the topography of Rt 29 on either side of it, and it's too bad that a beautiful young girl has paid the price with her life, for peoples' poor judgment and decisions regarding that intersection. The traffic history in that area since that intersection was created bears out what a bad plan it was/is. When will something be done??? If the money required for the necessary changes wasn't in VA state budget, then the developer should have been forced to make the changes necessary to Rt 29 to make the intersection safe at the time the development was being built.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Hug your family today, they all travel on less than ideal roads and can be the next victim of such a tradegy.
If you know the Aichs, a student at AHS, or other acquaintances of Sydney, offer them your condolenses.
Ask Albemarle Police Chief John Miller why 100's of accidents at this intersection has not been raised as a public issue that residents can then pursue with elected officals.
Write to Ken Boyd and the other Albemarle Board of Supervisors, Delegate Rob Bell, Senator Creigh Deeds, Governor Tim Kaine, Representative Virgil H. Goode, Jr., and Senators John Warner and Jim Webb and ask them how this intersection was ever allowed and why Phase 3 of the Route 29 improvements (South Fork of the Rivanna to Airport Rd) dropped off VDOT's plans? Ask them how we progress from 20+ year discussions on infrastructure improvements to reasonable periods of input and then action. Ask them to educate us on why a particular action is needed; we are voting for them to lead us, not just be the puppets of a few vocal constituents (and non-constituents).
Realize that improvements to our roads and infrastructure has real costs and will need taxes to be accomplished. Those who fought against taxes 10 years ago, leave us with dangerous intersections today that will cost 3-5 fold more today to fix.
Work together to mourn the loss of lovely young woman and then come together to fix the problem that contributed to her loss.
My deepest sympathy to the Aichs family on thier tragic loss. This is yet another wake up call to those in our local government who oppose a bypass around the city of Ch'ville and/or improvements to FL South entrance. A 16 year old girl has paid the price for your incompetence, arrogance and foolishness in opposing what should/could have been done years ago. Shame on all those past and present leaders who have had a hand in this tragedy. How many more innocent lives have to be lost before this town realizes that growth is inevitable due to UVA and other organizations - do something now or pay an even bigger price down the road.
To Michele, Clint, and Kyle - we love you and you are in our thoughts and prayers. We hope you will find strength and peace through Sydney's beautiful spirit, which is forever in your hearts.
I agree with every blogger that has voiced concerns about this intersection and the danger it puts area families and commuters in each day. The 29 corridor from Airport Road to Wal-Mart has been consistently dangerous. I challenge each of us to go beyond this blog and be the voice of change each of us wants and expresses needs to happen. Phone calls, letters, emails, public comment, whatever it takes. Sydney would want us to be that voice for her now and force those changes for her family and friends that travel this stretch and face this dangerous intersection daily.
Having lost a sibling at a young age, my heart is torn for the Aich family. May they find love and stories of their daughter and sister in all her friends whose paths they cross now and always. Though now it seems their hearts will never heal, I honestly say time will allow them to find peace with this loss.
I grew up in Camelot many years ago, and remember the intersection being put in. It has always scared me coming north from town, that hill makes me hold my breath 'til this day. I don't look forward to the day my children drive the same path. It is such a blind hill, and I've lost count of the accidents I have seen, let alone heard of since it has become an intersection.
Again, I pass my love and prayers to the Aich family, and from experience I send a message to all of Sydney's friends; take a moment, write a story of time you spent with her, it can be simple or hysterical. Send her family that story. It has been almost 13 years since I lost my brother, and those letters and stories that his friends sent my family still mean a lot. I love to know all those lives he touched. Let Sydney's family know how much she meant to you all...
My heartfelt prayers go out for Sydney's family and all whose lives she has touched. I did not know her but am so saddened by this tragedy. I know many youth who have been blessed to know her and see that her loss is a tragedy for the whole community. As the father of three, I cannot comprehend the loss. May Almighty God grant comfort, in time, and preserve the love that resulted from Sydney's sweet life.
The truck traffic on 29 goes too fast to anticipate making a quick stop at ANY of the stop lights going through the northern part of town. This intersection is the worst, but I have warned my own children of that same danger as you come out of Polo Grounds Rd. It's a common sight to see trucks run the red as your own light turns green. The truth is, Charlottesville needs a by-pass so the through traffic is not forced to navigate the 15 or so stoplights between Proffit Rd. and the 250/29 "bypass" exit near Best Buy.
First off i would like to say that i am truly sorry for what has happened to the Aichs family. When i heard of the accident early this morning and received news of the death during school my heart was saddened. As a resident of forest lakes south i literally have been through the same intersection hundreds of thousands of times. This past summer i witnessed a accident myself where a man drving a van drove threw that intersection at a very high speed and hit a red pick up truck. As i watched in aw as the truck flew almost slow motion in a way into the air and landed on its side. It was a scary incident and when i think back it could have been me or anyone else that day. I am sorry for this loss and hope something will be DONE!
The tire screeches haunt me as I hear in them in the distance, which is many each day. Rt. 29 is a very dangerous funnel of which we travel ever so tightly. It isn't until we reach Polo Grounds we feel relief when the road suddenly expands and we are free to breath. I was mortified when I witnessed the wreckage on my way to work this morning and then to find out it was Syndey.....devastation had permanently set heavy on my heart. This feeling I carry with me is as strong now as it was this morning. I hope dad arrives home soon and mom and brother draw strength and faith from one another until then.
I send my deepest regret and condolences to the family and friends of this very special and intelligent young lady. May Sydney remain in our thoughts, prayers and hearts forever.
One for VDOT -- level the 29 roller coaster please. We love our children!
this is sooo sad....i was going to school that morning and i saw the
car and the tractor trailer.she never got live the rest of her life and
may she always be in my prayers and god let her rest in peace
I am very sorry to learn of the loss of Sydney Aichs, who was such a young and important member of our community. It is a terrible tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the Aichs family at this difficult time.
I was a resident of Forest Lakes South for almost ten years and was very concerned about northbound trucks running red lights at the intersection of Route 29 and Forest Lakes South while living there. On the way home from work, my car pool mate and I frequently observed northbound trucks running red lights at this intersection, running full speed with no apparent attempt to stop (i.e., scrething brakes, skidding, smoking tires, or other indications of vehicle braking). From our vantage point in the cross over area at this intersection, my car pool mate and I would frequently observe the traffice light at this intersection turn red and then observe a truck continue driving through the light unabated several seconds later. Northbound drivers have ample notice of this approaching intersection via a pair of double-flashing yellow lights and warning signs posted on either side of Route 29, 1/8 to 1/4 of a mile in advance of this intersection. My estimation is that truck drivers and other drivers that run a red light at this intersection are making a concious decision to do so because they believe they can get away with it and perhaps because they can make it up the hill a little faster on the other side (i.e., without having to start up from a stop light, shift gears, etc., etc.)
Truck drivers in particular should know better about the hazards of intersections. Intersections are the leading site of vehicle collisions. Truck drivers are professionally trained and licensed drivers, and should readily know of this hazard zone. They should be leading the way for the rest of us in road safety, not creating road hazards and liabilities for the rest of us.
My vote is to hold drivers responsible for their actions, especially truck drivers, when they run red lights and the like. I am also in favor of installing cameras to monitor and video tape traffic at problem intersections, such as the intersection of Route 29 and Forest Lakes South. I am also in favor of reducing the speed limit on Route 29 between the intersections at Polo Grounds Road and Forest Lakes South to 35 miles per hour, in order to improve the reaction time for drivers stopping a vehicles, when cresting the hill and approaching the intersection of Route 29 and Forest Lakes South or perhaps when encountering traffic that may be stopped for one reason or another. These measures are relatively inexpensive and will save lives. Hopefully these improvements will be implemented.
We should all "adopt this portion" of a highway with signs telling people who don't live around here the realities of speed killing real people not overly dramatized actors in an ad campaign!
I petition we rename "Ashes" Blvd to Sydney Aichs Memorial Drive
and have an anual run for her as well as other events to prepare new drivers and remind seasoned drivers Route 29 is not a carnival ride. It is better to leave earlier and still be possibly late than to never arrive at all.
Crosses on a highway won't replace this vibrant red head who had a huge future ahead of her. Please help her good memories mean something in this corporate/government run world. Citizens voices matter!
God Bless her family and friends the pain as an observer is too much to bear. I pray the family finds the strength to stay together and carry on as she would want.
Sydney and i were as close as ever, this is very unreal for me, as well as her other good friends. I miss you with every part of my heart syd, and i will visit you soon. Also, that intersection needs to be fixed. If this isnt a good enough reason to make a change, i dont know what is. My prayers are with the whole aichs family. its hard knowing i will never get to go to her house again. I LOVE YOU AICHSY
My deepest condolences to Sydney's family and friends.
I hope that AC law enforcement and VDOT will act quickly to make this section of Rt. 29 safer. While I support long-term efforts to make this road safer, I believe that there are things which can and should be done this week. First, AC law enforcement needs to be out here in full force enforcing the speed limit- let's find the resources NOW to make Greene County look like a speeder's haven (Note to BOS: people should be able to exit their neighborhoods safely- find the money). Second: asap adjust the traffic lights in the interest of safety rather than traffic flow. And as John says above- get signs, and lights on 29N so there is no excuse for drivers running red lights as they come over a hill. AND reduce the speed limit on that section of 29. I hope that all the neighborhood associations off 29N let the BOS know that this is an urgent priority by asking their entire memberships to write/email the BOS and contact VDOT.
In 2000, a 16 year old student was killed on Rt. 20 on her way to MHS. The community was very effective in bringing about much needed safety improvements on Rt. 20. It is heartbreaking that such loss must happen to bring change.
this is sad my older sis new sydeny and i meet her 5 times she was vary nice i felt vary bad when i herd it was her that died that day it was one of the sadest days in all schools .....rip sydney
life comes and go's but sydney will aways be remmberd and she will aways be in are harts
I saw a photo of Sydney's car and it was shocking, to say the least. I went to Sutherland with Sydney and remeber her well. I was having some trouble with some students there one day and she told me not to worry about it and that I should smile and keep my head up. She told me it wasn't worth my time to listen to their taunting. She gave such great advice. Later on that same day, she walked past me in the hallway and flashed the biggest smile I think I've ever seen! It made me feel so much better. As I read the comments that were left for her I see that she shared that same smile and joy with everyone who knew her. Her death is a great tragedy and my thoughts are with her family. I can't imagine what they must be going through. I feel for her brother. I lost a sibling and it was the worst feeling I think I've ever felt. This affected the whole community, as well. I'm completely saddened by this because I know many people that attend Albemarle High School and it breaks my heart to know that they are torn apart inside because of this. She was such a great girl with obvious potential. Rest in peace, Sydney Nichol Aichs. You will be (and already are) greatly missed by all.
Our heart and prayers go out to Sydney's family. She was a beautiful person and talented athlete who will be missed by so many. Yes, I pray also that something is done with this part of 29 that has been a very dangerous stretch of road for way to long. Let's take action now and all those with children out there write a letter to Rob Bell today.
I share the sorrow of everyone on this blog for the tragic loss of Sydney Aich. Also, I am surprised that this dangerous intersection was every approved by the County of Albemarle and VDOT when Forest Lakes South was first proposed. Obviously, the long-term solution is to cut down the hill. Considering the state's revenue shortfall that is highly unlikely anytime soon. However, there is one very simple solution that could have prevented this accident and would prevent future ones.
VDOT could delay the green light on the Forest Lakes South outbound signal for two to three seconds. Thereby, when the Route 29 northbound light turns red, the Forest Lakes South light would remain red for a short period. Vehicles would remained stopped at Forest Lakes South for those critical seconds when other vehicles (especially trucks) are inclined to run the red light on 29. This fix could be made immediately and would cost VDOT virtually nothing. Had they done it ten years ago, countless accidents would have been avoided including the tragic one on Friday.
i am a freshman at Albemarle High this year and i wanted to say that the day sydney died was the quietest ever and Albemarle. Sydney was such a sweet girl, she always had a smile on her face. She lit up a room. I didn't know her that well but she was soo nice. Everyone felt the need to cry that day. Some of my friends who didn't even know her felt like they needed to do something to help her family and friends out. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. Her twin brother Kyle I think has it the toughest. I love you sydney and were all going to miss you soo much! You have no idea.
only the good die young
R.I.P Sydney Nicole Aichs
Let's hope something gets done to that section of road.
To the family of Sydney Nichol Aichs,
There are no words that can express my deepest saddness!!! I have three children and my heart goes out to you!! My eldest daughter is to be twenty soon and does not have her drivers license and does not want to get them because of the deadly hazzards on the roads. We did not know Sydney but my three children and I left some flowers as our heart goes out to you!! We have lived here 11 years and I know that area is an extremely dangerous area that the county and state government has need to fix long before this tragic loss!!! Please accept our condolences and remember you are in our thoughts and prayers!!
God Bless!!!
.
Nothing we can say will bring back the precious life of Sydney Nichol Aichs. Her death is truely heartbreaking... and so is the proven fact that it will take her death and probably several more for authorities to deem that intersection dangerous enough to act!
As a mom, my heart has been sickened by this news. You don't expect your child to be killed making a routine 10 minute drive to school. It is enough to worry about what might happen to them after hours when faced with the choices we all have to make everyday.
The choices made by the Planning Commission over the years have met with resistance time and time again...I've lived in Virginia all my life and in Charlottesville since 1990. We may as well all be dressed for a demolition derby when we leave our homes each day. Sink holes on 29 N at Forest Lakes, blind intersections around every corner. It is shameful what has been done in exchange for the almighty dollar.
AT THE VERY LEAST, one of those "caution lights" or whatever they are called need to be installed.....the ones that alert oncoming traffic in both directions that THE LIGHT IS ABOUT TO TURN RED. Like the one at McIntire Road/250.
But what really needs to be done is to grade the roads in both directions allowing for improved visibility and reaction time. There is no excuse for this not happening now.
And p.s. to those of you who come here from other places wanting to "live in the country". Once you're here, QUIT EXPECTING CITY CONVENIENCES!! The City is taking over the county/country. You want streetlights and sidewalks and grocery stores on every corner. And shopping malls and restaurants and nightspots, etc.
You don't really want to live in the country, you want to destroy it and many lives as well with your so-called progress.
I am in favor of renaming Ashwood Blvd. "Sydney Aichs Memorial Drive"
The Charlottesville/Albemarle Community needs to go after VDOT to get this intersection changed!!! How many more lives will be lost or families destroyed before something will be done?!?!
I did not know Sydney but I do live in Forest Lakes and I make that turn every day as well.
I have a 10 month old daughter and the thought of losing a cild is devastating. I am so sorry to the Aichs family and as I read and learn about who Sydney was, it is very apparent that Charlottesville has lost someone important.
Something needs to be done about this intersection!