After man’s death in Bowmanville petition for traffic calming nears goal

In the wake of a man’s death while out walking with his family in Bowmanville, a petition calling for new traffic calming measures in the neighbourhood nears its goal.

Spencer McCracken, 31, was out walking with his wife Breanna and six-month-old daughter Lily shortly after 8:30 p.m. on July 21, Durham Police reported. As they made their way down Simpson Avenue a grey Hyundai sedan struck a grey Hyundai Tucson SUV.

The sedan lost control and drove into the family. All three were rushed to a nearby hospital where McCracken was pronounced dead. Breanna and Lily were seriously hurt.

Investigators believe the sedan driver, Liam James Patrick Kendall, 22 of Clarington, was driving while impaired. He’s been charged with;

• impaired driving causing death,
• three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm,
• dangerous driving causing death,
• three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and
• driving without insurance

Following McCracken’s death, friend Alanna Kelly launched a GoFundMe fundraiser in support of Breanna and Lily. She describes McCracken as “a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend” and “a beacon of light and kindness, always willing to lend a helping hand and share a warm smile.”

Breanna and Spencer married in 2022. She was still on maternity leave at the time of the crash, according to Kelly. She remains in hospital while Lily is at home with loved ones.

This fundraiser has since reached more than $81,000 of its $100,000 goal in the last week from 166 donors. It is available here. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We really appreciate the love and support from the community, friends and family. This really outlines the impact Spencer had on so many people’s lives,” Kelly wrote in a Facebook update.

McCracken’s death has also inspired another initiative. Bowmanville man and McCracken relative Mike McCarthy launched a Change.org petition calling on Clarington to “implement stricter speed limits or better traffic calming measures on Simpson Avenue.”

“Our families, friends, and neighbours on Simpson Ave in Bowmanville, ON live in constant fear due to the excessive speeding on our streets. My family has personally experienced the tragic consequences of this neglect of public safety,” McCarthy wrote, “A family member of ours was recently stolen from us by an impaired driver, speeding beyond reasonable limits.”

“Bowmanville deserves better; we shouldn’t have to live in fear on our own streets,” he concluded, “We demand immediate action.” In the days since McCarthy posted his petition, it’s garnered 468 signatures of its 500 signature goal.

Many signatories shared their reasons for supporting the petition, “I watch some drivers speeding down this street on a daily basis and at times hold my breath waiting for a crash,” wrote one, “Also, if a stop sign was already there the tragedy may not have happened. Even intoxicated, the driver may have stopped or slowed down knowing there was a stop coming up.”

Another noted, “The speeds on Simpson Avenue are extreme most times. I am terrified to let my five children play out front. We need stop signs or speed bumps put it to help regulate the speed.”