In Loving Memory of Kevin Hicks

In Loving Memory of Kevin Hicks

On the quiet evening of February 24, 2026, along the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 near Bratenahl Road, a heartbreaking tragedy unfolded that would forever alter the lives of many. What began as an ordinary night quickly turned into one filled with flashing lights, urgent sirens, and unimaginable sorrow. Emergency crews responded to reports of a pedestrian struck along the highway — and that pedestrian was Kevin Hicks.

Responding agencies, including the Bratenahl Police Department, Cleveland Division of Police, Cleveland Division of Fire, and Cleveland EMS, arrived swiftly at the scene, working together with urgency and compassion. Upon arrival, officers and medical personnel located Kevin along the highway. Despite immediate and determined lifesaving efforts, he was tragically pronounced deceased at the scene.

In a moment, a life was lost — but Kevin Hicks was far more than the circumstances of that night.

He was a son, a friend, a neighbor, and a presence that mattered deeply to those who knew him. Kevin’s life was woven into the fabric of his community through quiet kindness, shared laughter, and everyday moments that now hold even greater meaning. The shock of his sudden passing has left family and friends grappling with grief, struggling to comprehend how someone so full of life could be gone in an instant.

Those who knew Kevin remember the warmth in his smile and the sincerity in his conversations. He was the kind of person who showed up — whether it was to lend a helping hand, offer encouragement during difficult times, or simply sit and listen. His presence brought comfort. His words carried thoughtfulness. His heart held compassion.

Highways are often symbols of movement and progress, of destinations and journeys. On that stretch of Interstate 90, however, the journey came to a tragic end. Yet Kevin’s true journey — the impact he made on others — continues. Love does not vanish with loss. Memories do not fade in a single night. They live on in the stories shared around dinner tables, in photographs carefully preserved, and in the quiet moments when his name is spoken with tenderness.

In times like these, communities come together — not only in mourning but in remembrance. The collaboration of first responders that evening reflects the shared humanity present in moments of crisis. Even in tragedy, there was care. There was effort. There was dignity afforded to Kevin in his final moments.

Grief is heavy, and it does not follow a schedule. It lingers in the silence after phone calls, in the empty seat at gatherings, in the routine moments where someone’s absence is most deeply felt. For Kevin’s loved ones, the days ahead will carry both pain and reflection. But within that pain is also gratitude — gratitude for having known him, for having loved him, and for the time that was shared.

As we remember Kevin Hicks, we honor more than the tragedy of February 24. We honor the fullness of his life. We honor the relationships he built, the kindness he extended, and the quiet ways he made the world around him better.

Though his time here was cut short, Kevin’s story does not end on a highway. It continues in every heart that holds him close. It continues in remembrance. It continues in love.

May his memory be a blessing.