TAMPA, Fla. — Community members organized a vigil to honor the jogger killed in Thursday's DUI crash on Bayshore Boulevard.
"I was immediately heartbroken, it was gut wrenching," said Erin Elser.
Elser created the Facebook page, Take Back Bayshore Boulevard, hours after Thursday's deadly crash and helped organize a vigil to honor the victim.
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She didn't know him personally, but says that doesn't matter because the tragedy that happened to him could have happened to anyone of the hundreds who exercise on Bayshore daily.
"We need to have a discussion, we really do as a community," said Elser. "We need to pull together, we need to unite and we need to find a way to make this safer."
Thursday's violent crash is a frightening reminder that Bayshore's beauty can come with a price.
"For me, it could have been a lot worse," said Joyce Dawn. "I’m very lucky that I had, that I was able to walk away from this and not everybody does."
In April 2013, Joyce Dawn was struck by a distracted driver while jogging with her dogs on Bayshore.
Joyce describes the car as out of control and sent her flying into Bayshore traffic at Carolina Avenue.
Joyce feels lucky to have survived, walking away with a broken tailbone.
"It catapulted me up, so I came up, and then I landed," said Joyce.
Saturday's vigil for the victim will was held on the Bayshore Boulevard sidewalk near Julia Street.
Those attending were asked to bring a single shoe lace to signify unity among all runners and joggers in light of this week's tragedy.
