BARRE, Vt. (WCAX) – A community pays homage to a little girl killed by a drunk driver last year.
31 motorcycles sputtered to life outside Wilkins Harley in Barre. They’re riding for Olivia Miles, a 6-year-old killed by a drunk driver in May of 2023. “She was incredible. She was my best friend through and through,” Oliva’s mom, Alisha Miles, said. “She was funny, smart, caring. She was just the best person.”
Olivia’s dad, Chad, dreamed of one day riding motorcycles with his daughter. In the wake of Olivia’s death, Chad bought a motorcycle from Wilkins Harley. They planted a tree on site in her honor. “To lose a child is the worst thing you could possibly imagine,” Chad Miles said. “Just the thought of any other parent having to go through it is unimaginable.”
Chad and Alisha brought Olivia along for the ride, her stuffed animal tucked into their motorcycle. Beginning at the dealership, they passed Georgia Plain Baptist Church where Olivia is buried and the spot on Route 105 in Sheldon where the accident happened. It was the first time Alisha had driven past the site. “That’s the one thing that I’ve kind of been dreading throughout this is driving through that, but I wanna do it for her. I know I can’t avoid it forever,” Alisha Miles said.
A gang of riders followed suit, friends and family of the Miles’ and strangers who wanted to honor the little girl. Bob Barnes of Enosburg passes by the accident site often on his way to work. ” You think about her every time you go by that spot,” he explained. Others said it’s custom for bikers to show up for one another. “Bikers are always there for each other,” Ray Jablonski of Highgate said. “We always get together and do charities.” Richard Sweet of Sheldon noted, “I have children too and I would be devastated to go through what they went through.”
It’s community like this that keeps Olivia’s memory alive, the memory of a bright girl whose future was stolen from her. Alisha and Chad say calling attention to her story is what fuels them. “The only thing that’s getting me through is continuing to make sure everyone remembers her, everyone knows who she is and trying to prevent any other parent from losing their child like we lost ours,” Alisha said. Chad added, “Your actions have consequences.”
Riders donated to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, a nonprofit working to end tragedies like Olivia’s.