CINCINNATI — Donna Pringle, 67, was hit and killed in a car crash Friday morning as she tried to cross Linn Street, near Chestnut. The path she walked was a typical one for her, and one she often made while getting groceries and medication for her neighbors in the community.
By Sunday night, a memorial had sprung up at the intersection, adorned with lotto tickets -- everyone knew she loved playing the Pick 3 -- and signs expressing love for her and declaring her a guardian angel in the West End community.
"She's always been what we call our Donna, our Park Town Donna," said Carliss O'Neal, a neighbor who lived near Donna. "Because she's always been a person who looked out for the whole community."
In the earlier morning hours, just as she was on Friday, Donna could often be found walking through the West End carrying newly-purchased groceries for others, or on her way to pick up needed medication for elderly neighbors.
"I don't care how hot, I don't care how cold, Donna would do it for you," said Delores Pringle, Donna's sister.
The family and many neighbors in the community gathered on Sunday for a celebration of the Fourth of July -- Donna's favorite holiday.
Delores said her sister's nieces and nephews were her whole world. She didn't have children, but doted on her nieces and nephews.
"Whatever they wanted, Aunt Donna took care of it," said Dolores.
The intersection where Donna was killed, Linn Street and Chestnut Street, was targeted as dangerous in Cincinnati's Vision Zero plan in 2019. The plan stated the intersection would be getting upgraded, flashing pedestrian signage, crosswalk paddles and a freshly painted crosswalk. As of Sunday night, the Linn Street upgrades are still listed as "Planned" on the Vision Zero page.
City data shows several serious pedestrian-involved crashes have happened at the same intersection since 2017.
As the neighborhood continues to wait for those improvements, the West End mourns the loss of a beloved community member who went out of her way to care for those around her.
"Donna could walk from here to Egypt and she would know somebody, so don't forget Donna," said Dolores.
