Kirsten Shaye Tompkins
Kirsten Shaye Tompkins
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Age: 14
Location:
Johansen Expressway and Steese Highway
Fairbanks , AK
United States
From an article in the Fairbanks Daily News-Minor.
Roadside memorial for Kirsten Tompkins
by dermotcole
08.04.10 - 09:16 am
(you can also see a slideshow of other photos with the article)
A spot next to where Kirsten Shaye Tompkins died last week has been turned into a roadside memorial for the 14-year-old Fairbanksan.
The most noticeable feature is a bicycle painted white. Starting in 2003 in St. Louis, a tradition has developed around the world in which people have placed “ghost bikes” at places where bicyclists have died. The bikes are usually locked to a light pole on the side of the road as a reminder of what happened.
A website about the phenomenon says there are more than 100 of them around the world. [sadly the number of worldwide ghost bikes is much larger]
The white bike is at the intersection of the Johansen Expressway and the Steese Highway. She was struck and killed at the intersection July 28. The bright paint that had been placed at the accident scene was later covered up with gray.
There are also bright balloons, flowers, two crosses, several stuffed animals, photos and messages in her honor. A drawing of a school bus says “Text us when you want” and “You will always have a place on your bus Shay-Shay.”
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Age: 14
Location:
Johansen Expressway and Steese Highway
Fairbanks , AK
United States
From an article in the Fairbanks Daily News-Minor.
Roadside memorial for Kirsten Tompkins
by dermotcole
08.04.10 - 09:16 am
(you can also see a slideshow of other photos with the article)
A spot next to where Kirsten Shaye Tompkins died last week has been turned into a roadside memorial for the 14-year-old Fairbanksan.
The most noticeable feature is a bicycle painted white. Starting in 2003 in St. Louis, a tradition has developed around the world in which people have placed “ghost bikes” at places where bicyclists have died. The bikes are usually locked to a light pole on the side of the road as a reminder of what happened.
A website about the phenomenon says there are more than 100 of them around the world. [sadly the number of worldwide ghost bikes is much larger]
The white bike is at the intersection of the Johansen Expressway and the Steese Highway. She was struck and killed at the intersection July 28. The bright paint that had been placed at the accident scene was later covered up with gray.
There are also bright balloons, flowers, two crosses, several stuffed animals, photos and messages in her honor. A drawing of a school bus says “Text us when you want” and “You will always have a place on your bus Shay-Shay.”