WORCESTER, Mass. - The city of Worcester held a vigil to honor eight victims who recently died due to traffic accidents.

The vigil was held at Chandler Magnet School as part of world day of remembrance. Among the eight people honored was Candice Asare-Yeboah. The five-year-old was struck by an SUV while crossing Stafford Street with her mother last April. She later died from her injuries.

Attendees were encouraged to wear yellow, the color of traffic safety, and were all given an opportunity to speak. 

"It’s a moment to literally and figuratively slow down and to recognize the terrible toll that road traffic causes worldwide, and even more so for people on foot or on bicycles," said Karin Valentine Goins of Walkbike Worcester. "And it’s also a chance to recognize that good things are starting to happen in terms of transportation in Worcester, to a more data-driven model that prioritizes safety, equity and sustainability and what we really need is public support."

"One of the most exciting things that I know we have is the new transportation mobility department which will be looking holistically at the entire city to implement our complete truce policy and most importantly to put into place a policy that's called vision zero which essentially means traffic calming measures that will reduce or eliminate all traffic deaths," said Etel Haxhiaj, district 5 city councilor.

The vigil was put on by Councilor Haxhiaj and Walkbike Worcester, an advocacy group working towards improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists throughout the city.