SASKATOON — Rhane Mahingen, on behalf of their family, renewed their plea to motorists to be responsible when driving in neighbourhoods such as residential areas and playground zones, where kids are visible, especially during the non-winter months.
Mahingen said it should not take the death of her niece, Baeleigh Emily Maurice, for traffic safety measures to be imposed since every motorist needs to drive responsibly and keep in mind that they are operating a thousand-pound vehicle.
"As people drive by 33rd Street and see her crosswalk, I want them to remember to slow down and be aware of how they are driving because it should not take one life to put up a crosswalk. It should not take one life for people to learn how to slow down and not to drive impaired. It should be common sense, and life should not have had to be taken away to remember these things," said Mahingen after the anniversary walk to remember her niece.
"While we're trying to get justice for Baeleigh, I want people to remember that she was a child whose life was taken on her way to school. That she had a future. She was planning for that future. She had brochures for high school, university, and a dream job picked out, and she never got to experience any of those things."
Mahingen added that the annual walk, held in the afternoon on Sunday, Sept. 8, reminds people about road safety, especially while driving in areas frequented by children. Hundreds, mostly wearing blue shirts with a photo of Maurice's face, joined the almost 20-minute walk from Avenue F North to A.H. Browne Park.
"This helps not only our family to get justice, but I hope it helps other children on their way to school because I know how dangerous 33rd Street can be, not just where Bailey was hit, but in other areas as well," Mahingen said.
She said that their family is hopeful the public won't forget the tragic incident that took the life of her niece and will not be overlooked and will be buried in the daily and fast-paced news cycle.
"I know a lot is going on in our world right now, and some things are scary, and some things are happy, but we mustn't forget Baeleigh and who she was, not only to my family but to the community in general. Baeleigh touched the lives of everyone within the Mayfair community. She was everywhere in this community, playing with her cousins or visiting family. She was a source of laughter and light for the teachers in Mayfair School when she was there for her short life," said Mahingen.
"I wish she was still around. I have always spent much time with Baeleigh. There is never a dull moment with her. One time, when we were going to pick up her sister from daycare, she looked at me and said, 'You know, auntie, you'd be an amazing mother.' I wish she were still around to experience what would have been that for me in the future. I know she's with us daily, with her sister and mother."
Mahingen said their family is thankful for the fantastic and monumental support they have received from everyone, including their relatives, friends, the community, and the Mayfair neighbourhood.
"I've seen professors from my university here, especially since everyone came together and brought anything they could for the feast. The Saskatoon police and everyone who made sure the roads were safe for us on our walk to the park," said Mahingen.
Taylor Ashley Kennedy was charged with driving impaired and causing the death Baeleigh Maurice, who was using the crosswalk on her way to Mayfair Community School on Sept. 9, 2021. The city installed a pedestrian crossing signal light after the incident, however Kennedy's case continues in the court system.
