Father Appeals for Memorial’s Return Following Son’s Fatal Crash
FALLSTON, MD — A Harford County father is requesting the State Highway Administration (SHA) to reconsider the removal of his son’s memorial on Route 152 following a motorcycle crash that claimed the young man’s life.
Gavin Hopkins, 20, died in the incident on April 1, 2023. His father, Brad Hopkins, established a memorial to honor his son, located approximately 30 feet beyond the guardrail where the accident occurred.
On October 13, 2023, the SHA removed the memorial after receiving complaints from neighbors. Authorities confirmed they had received multiple calls regarding the unauthorized memorial and dispatched police to the site while the situation was being reported.
Hopkins indicated that he had sought permission from SHA prior to creating the memorial, stating he was initially assured it would be allowed, as long as it was positioned safely. “They mentioned maintaining the area, but that hasn’t happened,” he said.
The SHA confirmed that Maryland law prohibits non-highway-related signage along state highways, citing safety concerns. They advised individuals seeking to honor loved ones to consider the Adopt-A-Highway program instead.
Despite the memorial’s absence, Hopkins plans to continue visiting the site. “The removal of the cross won’t stop us from coming here,” he stated. Local neighbors were not available for comment when approached by WJZ.
Emergency response units did not report any additional incidents related to the memorial’s removal. The investigation into the standing complaints by local residents remains ongoing.
For further updates, follow local news sources.