Elena BarreraTallahassee Democrat
Ellie Sims was excited to come back to the town she was born in to become a Florida State Seminole — but no one expected the place she was given life would be the place she lost it.
Ellie was struck and killed in the crosswalk of an intersection not far from Florida State University's campus. Almost two months after the crash, her parents returned to Florida's capital to speak out about pedestrian safety.
The 20-year-old sophom*ore's parents said it was "bittersweet" being back for the first time since the accident and when they came to move Ellie's things out of her apartment. Ellie's family flew in from Tennessee to speak at the Tallahassee City Commission's meeting Wednesday evening.
"Tallahassee is always going to have a special place in my heart because this is Ellie," said her father, John Sims, wiping tears from his eyes.
The grieving family was met with a strong support system of parents and students who were friends with Ellie through FSU's Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.
"We're here for student safety, pedestrian safety," said Kristen Sims, her mother. "We really feel that we owe it to Ellie, to Ellie's memory."
Ellie's father, two of her friends and another student's parent stood before commissioners, as did John, with Kristen by his side, to asked the commission to honor their daughter by passing a local ordinance requiring consideration to pedestrian safety when planning future development.
City planning changes to intersection where Ellie Sims was killed
Shortly after the hit-and-run in a crosswalk near the intersection of Lorene and Pensacola streets, the city and university surveyed the area to make needed adjustments. Improvements are scheduled to begin June 24 and be completed by Aug. 15, just in time for the start of FSU's fall semester, according to the city's project webpage.
"The fact that they presented us with a plan so quickly and are willing to implement it so quickly, we're thrilled," Kristen said in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat after the meeting.
"However, it's just a double-edged sword because our daughter really paid the ultimate price for these things not being implemented earlier."
John said he feels strongly that the measures the city is taking will work and hopefully prevent any other parent from experiencing what he and his wife are.
"I wish you could've met her," John told commissioners as he choked back tears. "She was awesome."
Reduced speed limits and more coming to CollegeTown
Before that, City Commissioner Jack Porter brought up the issue of pedestrian safety, asking for a status update so the public could stay informed. City Manager Reese Goad told the board that the city has a "great working relationship with the university" and plans are already in motion.
FSU President Richard McCullough has had several meetings with Mayor John Dailey, leading to the infrastructure project in the works.
After surveying the Pensacola Street and St. Augustine Road corridors, the city and university determined the best course of action is to reduce speed limits, install enhanced signage and create raised intersections, Goad said.
"FSU has the most intimate relationship with the students" so the institution will be launching a campaign to educate the students about pedestrian safety once the fall semester begins, Goad added.
Dailey said he'd like to see the community switch from flashing yellow lights to flashing red lights because more drivers recognize red as a command to stop.
The mayor also noted that he and FSU are interested in discussing the possibility of a legislative change that would enforce speed limits in zones on college campuses. As of now, state law only covers K-12 schools, Dailey said.
City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow encouraged feedback from the community who he said might be better equipped to inform them on the areas that need to be addressed because they are living there and witnessing the problems.
"We are reacting to a tragedy, but going and exploring the area, it appeared unsafe and we didn't necessarily have an advocate for that," Matlow said.
Porter, who has been a promoter of pedestrian safety throughout her time in her leadership role, said she hopes this conversation is one that could be extended beyond FSU's campus and to all areas of Tallahassee and Leon County.
"FSU is a priority but every street is a priority," she said.
'A punch in the gut'
Ellie's death was a wake up call to the community, especially to those closest to her.
Gaby Prado and Kate Butler, both members of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, spent hours at the intersection where they lost their friend trying to make sense of their grief.
"It was a punch in the gut every time I saw a car speeding right past us or saw a driver ignore the flashing lights, which means trying to cross," Prado said. "I'm truly shocked at the fact that there haven't been more accidents given what I saw that week."
Butler said Ellie was less than a block away from her campus apartment when she was killed, and while she's appreciative of what's already in the works, "more needs to be done."
She and Prado are just two of thousands who are pushing for an actual traffic light to be installed. Within hours of the accident, a petition was created advocating for the addition of stoplights in these areas, and it garnered 25,000 signatures.
John said many parents have reached out after the accident because "genuinely they could see themselves in us, that that could have been (their) child," he said.
While she's become the face for change, Ellie's parents said she is so much more.
Their daughter was "fiercely loyal," kind and an "adventurous spirit," Kristen said. She was an old soul, yet always brought a fresh perspective to everything.
"She blossomed here," John said. "It was beautiful to see the growth and see the person she was becoming."
Though she could get caught up in her fears and concerns "just like any other 20-year-old," John said he was always proud that she never let that stop her from trying to reach her goals. "I could go on and on about her."
As Butler put it, "Ellie touched the heart of every single person she met and never let anybody go unnoticed."
Breaking & trending news reporter Elena Barrera can be reached atebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X:@elenabarreraaa.
