A grieving mother wants to keep others from harm after her son was killed in a crash trying to merge onto the White Horse Pike from Delilah Road.
Devante Schriver, 23, struck a utility pole just after midnight Sunday, when his 2020 Honda Accord left the roadway.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, Atlantic City police said.
After many accidents in that area, Melinda Schriver is hoping a petition will help make the stretch safer for the next person.
"I’ve seen many accidents here," she wrote on the petition. "Never thought one would be my son."
Schriver said she actually passed the scene Sunday, and called her son when she saw a car that looked like his.
She worked all weekend on trying to get answers on how her son died.
Instead, she has more questions.
Absecon police were first on the scene, then alerted Atlantic City that the crash was on their side of the border, Lt. Kevin Fair said, adding that an Atlantic City officer arrived at 12:16 a.m.
EMTs were already on scene, Fair said.
But a witness claimed that the timeline was much longer.
John Huron said his wife called 911 at 12:02 a.m., just seconds after witnessing the crash.
Devante Schriver still had a pulse, Huron said, alleging that it took EMTs 40 minutes to arrive.
"Come on, bro," Huron said he kept saying to young man, as he felt a faint pulse.
"He did have life in him," he said.
His wife even called a second time to see where the ambulance was. Huron said he also heard the Absecon officer go on the radio saying he didn't hear sirens.
When the EMT did arrive, Huron said, she went over to the young man still in the car and checked for a pulse.
"I heard her say, 'He's gone,'" he said. "I was a little confused. They didn't work on him or anything."
Absecon police only had that the call was recorded in their system at 12:09 p.m., and then the scene was turned over to Atlantic City.
As Melinda Schriver continues to look for answers, she is now planning a goodbye to her son.
The family will honor the Absecon man who was a beloved cook at Naomi's Cafe in Northfield, owned by his mother.
"The best cook ever," his proud mother told BreakingAC.
A GoFundMe has also been set up to help his 1-year-old daughter, Isabell.
His funeral is scheduled for 3 to 6 p.m. Friday at Parsels Funeral Home at 324 New Jersey Ave. in Absecon.
Afterward, those who knew and loved Devante will meet at Naomi's Cafe.
The investigation is being conducted by Officer Fitzroy Simpson of the Accident Investigations Section. Anyone with information is asked to call the Atlantic City Police Department Accident Investigations Section at 609-347-5744. Information may also be texted anonymously to tip411 (847411), beginning the text with ACPD
