City Renames Bridge In Honor Of Girl Killed In 1996

bhcityhall2-36
bhcityhall2-36

Benton Harbor City Commissioners have renamed the Britain Avenue bridge over Ox Creek in honor of a local girl who was killed at the age of 12 in 1996 when she fell into a sinkhole caused by heavy rain nearby. During a Monday meeting, commissioners remembered the tragedy that took Twijuana Floyd. Commissioner Mary Alice Adams said it was appropriate that the bridge now be known as the “Twijuana Marie Floyd Memorial Bridge.”

“I’m hoping that we can do more in the days to come so that we can honor this baby, this young lady that lost her life in such an undeserving, tragic way, and I thank God for her sister that was saved in that same moment,” Adams said.

The resolution approving the bridge name said the sidewalk near the bridge gave way after heavy rains about 20 feet from Ox Creek. 7th grader Twijuana Floyd was on her way to Martin Luther King Junior High School and fell into the sinkhole along with two companions. Twijuana was pinned under a slab of concrete and died from her injuries. Also Monday, commissioners renamed the Harbor Bluff housing complex in honor of former City Commissioner Ralph Crenshaw. Mayor Marcus Muhammad noted Crenshaw has served the city in a variety of ways over his long career.

“Really, for what you’ve done, and laid the foundation for Black elected officials in this city, there’s nothing that we could name that really could give you the honor that you really deserve,” Muhammad said.

Crenshaw served as a commissioner for more than 30 years. Harbor Bluff will now be known as the Ralph Crenshaw Housing Development. Additionally on Monday, the commission renamed Fifth Street from the roundabout to the railroad tracks as the “Muhammad Ali Way.”