Bucks Co. Mother Gets Sidewalk On Road Where Son Died

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA —A Levittown mother fought for more than a decade for a sidewalk on New Falls Road in the area that claimed the life of her son.

At a ceremony Thursday afternoon, Sharon Rearick finally saw her wish come true.

Rearick was joined by State Rep. Tina Davis, PennDOT officials, and local leaders for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new sidewalk installation at 4595 New Falls Road.

Rearick's son John was struck and killed by a motor vehicle while walking along the road in 2012. She played a pivotal role in having a sidewalk installed, leading efforts through her Sidewalks Are For Everyone (SAFE) initiative.

“It has been a long battle to have these sidewalks installed,” Davis said. “Hundreds of pedestrians travel along New Falls Road every day and now, finally, they can do so safely. We should never have another John Rearick or any of the other tragedies that have occurred there. I applaud PennDOT and our township officials for working with us to make this happen.”

Davis and former Sen. Robert "Tommy" Tomlinson worked for more than a decade to get the sidewalk to New Falls Road, which has seen multiple accidents involving pedestrians.

Construction of the sidewalk was overseen by PennDOT and commenced last spring. The sidewalk’s completion, initially slated to finish in the spring 2024, was completed one year ahead of schedule.

See CBS News for what Rearick had to say at the cemetery.

In 2012, Rearick posted on Patch asking people to sign a petition for the sidewalk.

"There are many reasons to pursue this goal of having walkways put on this dangerous road," she stated in her Patch Neighbors post. "Mine is a personal one. In July 2012, my 23-year-old son John J. Rearick, was by hit by a vehicle on New Falls Road. It was a hit-and-run. He was taken to the hospital and six days later he passed due to complications related to the violent accident. My family was there every day at the hospital. We all hoped and prayed that John may come out of this terrible ordeal. It had felt as though we had cried for six years instead of days."