A tragic story from Washington state has shocked the community, as a legally blind man known for advocating pedestrian safety lost his life in what authorities are calling a road rage incident. Steven Bird, 63, from Tacoma, was walking home with two friends, Lolita and Ken O’Donnell, when they encountered a terrifying situation at a crosswalk in Burien on December 2, 2024.
According to prosecutors, an SUV driven by 18-year-old Naim Hicks sped toward the group as they stepped into the crosswalk near Town Square Park. Witnesses said the vehicle didn’t slow down at a stop sign and came dangerously close to hitting them. Reacting out of fear and frustration, Ken reportedly threw his keys at the SUV, hitting either its back or side.
The SUV came to a sudden stop, and Hicks got out, heading straight for the group. What followed was a heated exchange, during which Hicks allegedly punched both Ken and Steven. Witnesses described how Steven, who had macular degeneration and Stargardt’s disease, making him legally blind, couldn’t brace himself after being hit. He fell backward, hitting his head on the pavement with such force that a witness six stories above the scene heard the impact.
Steven was rushed to the hospital but tragically passed away five days later. Prosecutors noted that Steven hadn’t done anything to provoke the attack. Witnesses said he appeared vulnerable and defenseless during the confrontation.
Hicks was arrested last week and has been charged with second-degree murder. He is being held in jail on a $1 million bail.
Steven’s death has left a deep void in his community, where he was known as a kind, caring person committed to improving pedestrian safety. Since 2016, he had worked with Downtown on the Go, a local organization focused on transportation advocacy.
“Steven always wanted to make things better,” said Laura Svancarek, the group’s interim executive director. His friend Andrea Williams shared how Steven used to say he feared being hit by a car one day. “He was just an incredible person,” she said. “Fabulous in every way.”
This heartbreaking incident has highlighted the dangers pedestrians face daily and has left Steven’s friends and community mourning the loss of a man who worked so hard to protect others.
Reminds me of my bf when he was hit. That was last month, the 9th to be correct. We were both trying to cross, were just about to, as we had the right of way. When from out of nowhere, a black car driven by an older man (60 yrs old we think) came and ran over him twice! The whole time cussing at him that “He had the right of way, not us” (the signal was literally the white guy walking) anyway, the old man stopped for a min, just long enough for my boyfriend to escape, then he ran off, into the night. There are many others who were also hit at that intersection as well. (Not the same night).