Three years ago, Amar Diarrassouba was described by the New York Times as "brimming with promise." Of course, that could be said about every 6-year-old.
Perhaps you remember Amar's name. The first-grader was killed three years ago as he and his older brother were crossing an East Harlem street on their way to elementary school. Amar was hit by a tractor-trailer as he and his brother were in a crosswalk just a block from where their school day was soon to begin.
Amar's brother was not physically hurt in the truck accident. But he did witness the horror of his younger brother's needless death.The truck driver kept going after he hit Amar, not even realizing that a little boy laid bleeding and dying on the street.
Today, an unpassed piece of legislation bears Amar's name. The proposed Amar Diarrassouba Life-Saving Truck Guard Law would require "trucks operated within the city to be equipped with rear-wheel guards," the city's website states.
It is believed that if the truck that struck Amar had had those wheel guards, a boy once brimming with promise might still be alive to fulfill that promise.
For those who have lost a loved one in a truck accident, it is clear that no proposal can make their lives whole again. But it is possible that thoughtful safety measures can reduce the chances that other families will have to endure similar tragedies.
For some families, apologies and proposals are not enough. They fight for another form of justice by holding accountable those who are responsible for the damage done. The skilled attorneys at Raphaelson & Levine law firm can help make that justice possible.
