Akron Residents Demand Safety on Memorial Parkway
A hit-and-run collision has fueled urgent calls for traffic improvements on a road with a history of accidents.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Accidents
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Following a recent hit-and-run that injured a pedestrian and killed his dog, Akron residents are raising alarms about safety on Memorial Parkway. The incident occurred at the intersection of Merriman Road, where the driver fled the scene and remains at large.
Why it matters
Community members and local officials point to high vehicle speeds and heavy school commuter traffic as significant dangers to pedestrians. The incident has intensified pressure on the city to address long-standing safety issues along this corridor.
Police are investigating the hit-and-run collision that occurred on October 3, 2026, and the perpetrator remains unidentified. Local authorities have recorded 15 injury-related crashes on Memorial Parkway since 2024 out of 97 total incidents.
The players
Robert Kelly
He is the pedestrian who sustained a broken leg and other injuries during the recent hit-and-run incident.
The details
Robert Kelly sustained a broken leg and other injuries after a driver struck him and his dog in a crosswalk, leading to the death of the animal. While traffic posts were installed along Memorial Parkway this past summer, residents continue to express concern over drivers exceeding the 35 mph speed limit.
Timeline
2024: The period when the city began tracking the 97 total crashes on the parkway.
Summer 2026: Traffic posts were installed along Memorial Parkway to improve visibility.
October 3, 2026: Robert Kelly and his dog were struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk.
January 2027: A scheduled safety study of the road is set to begin.
Legal Context
The city is utilizing $460,000 from the federal Safe Streets for All grant program to address chronic safety concerns. This proactive measure aligns with broader municipal efforts to reduce accidents on high-traffic urban corridors.
Residents should exercise increased caution when using crosswalks along the Memorial Parkway corridor, especially during peak school commuting hours. The city will implement a safety study starting in January 2027 to determine future traffic enforcement or infrastructure changes.
The takeaway
Ongoing community advocacy is pushing local government to prioritize pedestrian infrastructure over vehicle speed on busy municipal roads. Residents are encouraged to report dangerous driving behaviors to help inform the upcoming safety study.
What happens next
The city of Akron is scheduled to begin a formal safety study of Memorial Parkway in January 2027 to recommend potential road modifications.
Further reading
For more information on local road safety, see our report on Akron Accidents.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News 5 Cleveland WEWS.
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