Ocala, Fla. – A year after 18‑year‑old Shannon Rush was struck and killed by an SUV while walking to a bus stop on Old Blitchton Road, her sister Shanta Norton is turning grief into action. Norton, a resident of Ocala, has founded the “Halo Glow” initiative, a collection of wearable safety devices designed to make pedestrians more visible to drivers during dark morning hours.
From tragedy to invention
Rush, a student at Forest High School, died on the morning of Oct. 27 while crossing the road near her school. The loss has left a lasting wound for Norton, who says watching other children navigate the same stretch of road inspired her to seek a practical solution.
“It’s heartbreaking, and nobody should have to suffer this way,” Norton told local station WESH. “My nerves were a wreck. I’m like, ‘This cannot happen to another family.’”
How Halo Glow works
Halo Glow offers a range of low‑cost accessories – bracelets, shoe clips and backpack clips – that emit a steady glow or pulsating light. The devices are intended to alert drivers without creating a distraction for either party.
“It’s like a pulsating device, and the color should illuminate, and it’s safe for the driver as well as the pedestrian,” Norton explained. While the initial focus is on students waiting for buses or walking to school, she hopes the products will eventually be used by anyone traveling in low‑light conditions.
Advocacy for broader safety measures
Beyond the wearable technology, Norton is championing what she calls “Shannon’s Law,” a proposal that would call for sidewalks, improved street lighting and additional signage along Old Blitchton Road and nearby streets. She says the effort is driven by the children who continue to walk the same route.
“There are still so many other kids who walk that same direction that we never thought about the dangers of just them walking along the edge of the road,” she said. “Seeing them navigate the area in the dark after my sister’s death made the need for additional safety measures even more apparent.”
Seeking partners and support
Halo Glow is still in the development phase. Norton is actively looking for manufacturers, local businesses and community groups to help turn the concept into a finished product. An online fundraiser has been created for anyone interested in donating to the cause.
She envisions the initiative expanding beyond Ocala. “If we can prevent other stuff from happening, why not try to make it a thing? It’s not just this community. I would like to make it a nationwide thing, but I just want to help,” Norton said.
Community response
Local parents, school officials and safety advocates have expressed support for the project, noting the lack of adequate lighting and pedestrian infrastructure in parts of the city. While city officials have not yet taken formal action on “Shannon’s Law,” the conversation sparked by Norton’s effort has put pedestrian safety back on the municipal agenda.
As the development of Halo Glow continues, Norton remains hopeful that her sister’s memory will lead to safer streets for all Ocala residents.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
