January 23, Massachusetts State House, Boston Massachusetts
Hunter Levitan to speak at "Pass Hands Free in Mass" Day of Action
Hunter Levitan will speak at the "Day of Action" on January 23, 2019 at the Massachusetts State House in honor of her late sister Merritt Levitan, killed at 18 by a distracted driver, to lobby for the passage of Hands Free legislation in Massachusetts.
During the summer of 2013, Hunter (16) lost her oldest sister Merritt (18) to a distracted driver. An accomplished student-athlete and adoring older sister, Merritt had just graduated from Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts and was scheduled to enter Colgate later that fall. While on a cross country summer bike trip after graduation, Merritt was struck on July 2, 2013 in rural Arkansas by a young man who was texting behind-the-wheel.
Merritt suffered traumatic brain injury on site and was medevaced to a Memphis trauma hospital. She died the next day, July 3, 2013.
Hunter and her younger brother Joe (13), along with her parents and friends, flew to Memphis to be with Merritt for her final 24 hours.
Hunter and Joe were at Merritt's beside, holding her hands, when she passed.
After a long road to personal recovery as a sibling survivor, Hunter now is a champion for Hands Free legislation across the United States. She has spoken about her sister Merritt, her life and legacy, in Massachusetts and most recently in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia State Capitol where the Hands Free Georgia Law went into effect on July 1, 2018 - within one day of the 5th anniversary of the crash that killed her sister Merritt.
Hunter identifies herself as a sibling survivor of a 100% preventable crash which took the life of her sister Merritt had there been a Hands Free law in Arkansas. She is passionate about Massachusetts passing this important law which will save lives. Hunter Levitan, now 21, is currently a junior at New York University, majoring in journalism and English.
Merritt Levitan's senior picture for Milton Academy, Class of 2013, taken by her sister Hunter Levitan. Hunter Levitan will speak at the Day of Action on January 23 at the Massachusetts State House to lobby for the passage of a Hands Free Law in the state of Massachusetts.
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