The father of Danielle Abrahams said new bollards outside the Vancouver home where she was killed could help prevent another tragedy.
VANCOUVER, Wash. — When James Layne visited his daughter’s memorial Sunday, it looked a little different.
“I’m happy they’re finally up. They should’ve been up a long time ago,” Layne said.
The city of Vancouver recently installed 27 bollards outside the home where a car crashed in August 2023, killing his daughter, Danielle Abrahams.
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The home is at the corner of West Fourth Plain Boulevard and Northwest Fruit Valley Road.
“She came home from work, sat down and tended to their pet,” Layne said. “My son got up and handed her the pet when the car came through the window. It wound up on top of her, causing her death and killing the dog as well.”
The driver was sentenced to more than eight years in prison after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide while driving under the influence in connection with the Aug. 3 crash.
Layne said he was robbed of more time with his daughter that day.
“Danielle was quite a human being. She enjoyed her job taking care of people,” Layne said.
He visits the memorial he put up outside the home every few weeks.
“People walk by and can look at it, read it,” Layne said. “I know a lot of family and friends don’t want to relive it, but I live it every day because she’s not here.”
Layne said he hopes the bollards will help save lives at the home in the future.