Westfield, Ind. – Two months after their son Graham was killed while crossing at 196th Street and Tomlinson Road, parents Chris and Rachel Stidham are pressing the Westfield City Council to lower the speed limit on Tomlinson Road from 40 mph to 30 mph. The family lives near Tomlinson Road and Monon Trail Elementary School and says the higher speed contributed to the fatal accident.
Council discussion
During a recent council meeting, the Stidhams testified that they are not seeking to close the road, only to make it safer for pedestrians, especially schoolchildren. Rachel Stidham told council members, “I’m not asking you to close the road. I’m not asking you to do something completely unreasonable. It’s 5 mph less than you guys are agreeing or think makes sense.” She added that a compromise of 35 mph would not satisfy the family’s safety concerns.
The council has previously considered a reduction to 25 mph, but members postponed that proposal on Monday. Officials said the issue will be revisited next month after engineers gather additional data on traffic flow and roadway design.
Additional safety measures
Beyond the speed‑limit request, the council is evaluating other improvements for the crash site, including a new marked crosswalk and better pedestrian‑trail connections. The Stidhams emphasized that a lower speed limit alone will not bring Graham back, but it could prevent another family from experiencing the same heart‑wrenching loss.
“Our whole platform and kind of our goal since we’ve lost Graham was, it’s going to take a multitude of things,” Rachel said. “It’s going to take signs and awareness and a crosswalk and a speed limit reduction.”
The family’s advocacy reflects a broader concern among Westfield parents about traffic safety near schools and residential neighborhoods. Their push for change underscores the importance of community input in municipal decisions that affect daily life.
Next steps
Westfield City Council will continue to collect engineering data and public feedback before voting on any amendment to the speed limit. Residents are encouraged to attend future meetings or submit comments to the council’s public‑record portal.
For now, the Stidhams remain hopeful that their efforts will lead to concrete actions that keep children safe on Westfield’s streets.
Original reporting: 93.1 WIBC (Indianapolis) — read the source article.
