FERRIDAY, La. – The nephew of a Ferriday woman who died when her car was struck by an 18-wheeler on E.E. Wallace Boulevard is calling on local police to step up efforts to catch speeding trucks.

&uot;I’m just trying to save lives,&uot;&160;said Donald Gardner, nephew of Nancy Ella Gardner. &uot;We’ve had several fatalities there in the past, and it doesn’t have to happen.&uot;

Nancy Gardner, 80, and friend Florence Valentine, 72, both died May 9 as the result of injuries sustained when an 18-wheeler hit their vehicle on North E.E. Wallace Boulevard near Serio Boulevard. Valentine died at the scene; Gardner was pronounced dead at nearby Riverland Medical Center shortly after the accident.

Posted speed limits along U.S. 65 drop from 55 to 35 miles per hour outside Ferriday, dropping to 25 miles per hour inside the town, where the highway is known as E.E. Wallace Boulevard.

&uot;But you’ll still see trucks barreling into town at 60, 65 miles per hour,&uot;&160;Donald Gardner said. &uot;If you pull out in front of them, … you’re dead.&uot;

And trucks carrying double-wide trailers through the town &uot;come through there like they own the place,&uot; he added. &uot;I know they have a job to do, but that doesn’t mean lives have to be lost.&uot;

Gardner has taken his complaint to the Ferriday Police Department, and he said the officer on duty promised that the law would be enforced.

Police Chief Bobby Sheppard could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

In the coming weeks, Gardner plans to simply watch traffic through the area to make sure traffic laws are enforced, especially when it comes to large trucks.

Beyond that, he is not sure what he will do to make sure his concerns are addressed.

&uot;For now,&uot; Gardner said, &uot;I’ll just wait and see.&uot;