TACOMA, Wash. — In a tragic turn of events last month, a road rage incident led to the death of 63-year-old Steven Bird, a blind advocate for the disabled community in Tacoma. Authorities have charged 18-year-old Naim Hicks with second-degree murder following the altercation on December 2.
On the evening in question, Steven Bird was nearly struck by an SUV driven by Hicks, who reportedly failed to turn on the vehicle’s headlights and disregarded a stop at an intersection. The tension escalated when one of Bird’s companions hurled their keys at Hicks’ vehicle, prompting him to exit the SUV and confront the group. During the confrontation, Hicks allegedly struck Bird, causing him to fall and fatally hit his head on the pavement. A witness reportedly heard the impact from six stories above, highlighting the severity of the fall. Bird succumbed to his injuries five days later.
Following his arrest last Thursday, Hicks is currently detained on a $1 million bail. Legal proceedings are ongoing, underscoring a community’s grappling with the sudden loss of a well-loved figure.
The people who knew Steven speak of him in the highest terms. As described by Laura Svancarek, Interim Executive Director at Downtown on the Go, “Steven wanted to help, to make things better for people.” This sentiment was echoed broadly among those who benefited from his tireless advocacy and vibrant personality.
Steven’s passion for advocacy was not just about promoting awareness but making tangible changes for safer mobility for the disabled. This work was a personal mission for him, driven by his own experiences navigating the city without sight.
In their home, Andrea and Doug Williams, Steven’s relatives, described a vast network of support that has rallied since his passing. “We had 60 people in our house the Friday after it happened,” they shared, painting a picture of a community profoundly connected to Steven. They reminisced about his curiosity, intelligence, and the joy he found in social gatherings where he often assumed the role of a spirited orator.
His blindness, a challenge he lived with for many years following his diagnosis, never dimmed his contributions to society. Instead, it fueled them, driving him to advocate tirelessly. “He was just a perfect human being and just fabulous,” Andrea said, reflecting on Steven’s character.
A memorial service for Steven is scheduled for next month, promising to be a celebration of his life and legacy, attended by those touched by his advocacy and friendship.
This incident not only casts a spotlight on the perils of road rage but also on the loss of a figure central to local disability activism, whose life’s work was to make Tacoma a more inclusive and safer place for everyone.