Nikki Kellenyi’s life was cut short in a motor-vehicle accident on Pitman-Downer Road in April 2012.
The 18-year-old was a passenger in the back seat of a car that collided with a pickup truck, according to police reports at the time. Distracted driving was determined to be the cause of the crash that claimed the life of the high-school senior.
Joe Berne, of Envy Landscape & Design LLC, still maintains a memorial in Kellenyi’s memory at the site of the accident. For his dedication and support of People Against Distracted Driving during April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month, township council thought it fitting to present him and his family with a proclamation at its April 23 meeting.
Council Vice President Donald Brown Jr. read the document verbatim.
“Distracted driving is a serious life-threatening practice,” it notes. “Distracted driving can result in injuries and deaths to all road users, motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Distracted driving occurs when drivers divert their attention away from the task of driving to focus on another activity instead.
“In 2023, distracted driving-related crashes resulted in 3,275 deaths and more than 400,000 injuries on our nation’s roads,” the proclamation adds. “The state listed distracted driving as a contributing circumstance in 50% of all motor-vehicle crashes in 2023.”
The state – and township police – participated in a nationwide distracted driving crackdown of “U Drive. U Text. U Pay” last month, an effort to raise awareness and decrease accidents with a combination of enforcement and education. The police department recognized Berne in a Facebook post.
“Joe has been a strong advocate for safe driving and regularly volunteers his time and services to help beautify our (police headquarters),” the post notes. “His efforts reflect the true spirit of community caretaking, and we’re proud to recognize his contributions.”
