Traffic accident memorials?

[Penny Lane]

Last weekend 2 teens were killed in a traffic accident in our area. The accident occurred by the car hitting a ditch and then hurled into a tree in someone's front yard. Well, as is the trend is nowadays, kids have set up a memorial on this homeowner's front lawn. The homeowner is ready to place a complaint with the police. Strangers are on his property day and night. These kids are blocking other peoples driveways. In fact one man told me that he asked someone to move his car so that he could get out onto the road and the kid was rude and refused. It has become a big mess. The homeowner doesn't want to be labelled unsympathetic but really, I sure wouldn't want strangers gathering in my front yard. I understand the classmates feelings but there are cemeterys to lay flowers and leave tributes. I don't know what the home owner is going to do but this has become a real nuisance not only to him but to his neighbors. What do you think about this?

[PZelda]

I have mixed feelings on this matter. It's a nice thing, but a lot of things need to be taken into consideration. Honestly, I don't think many people do this nowadays. I'll be honest... it's also rather creepy, to boot. Back in early 2005, a man from around this neighborhood was accidentally killed when he was crossing the street here... You have to understand that this man was ROARING DRUNK and the driver who hit him was only going about 15 MPH. Anyway, his family has placed small flower wreaths and the like at the location where he was killed -- this location is a very short walk away from here. It's not an obnoxious memorial or anything and is on public property, so I suppose it's okay.

The memorials that people DO set up, with crosses and all these crazy flowers and balloons (I've seen some memorials like that ) are NOT okay and can actually be rather dangerous. What if you get in an accident there in this same spot, and get impaled by the wood from the cross? I wonder if that has ever happened, and if the family of the recently deceased have sued the family who set it up there in the first place, for THEIR deceased.

So, what I'm saying is that I don't really approve of memorials on public property, and they ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT be set up on private property, unless they have the owner's consent, which seems to be the case here. I just don't understand why anybody would want to be reminded of exactly where their loved one was killed.

[Janice]

I think roadside memorials are an eyesore and are dangerous. They're banned in Massachusetts.

[Shlomo Yehudim]

I feel they should move the shrine off the mans lawn, or at least talk to him and maybe set up some sort of agreement. I really feel for the kids, and the owner.