KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – A Knoxville man is turning personal tragedy into a push for safer and more accessible transportation options in the city.
Miles Kredich is advocating for expanded public transit following the death of his twin brother, Ben Kredich, who was killed by an impaired driver on Kingston Pike in 2023.
“He was just such a light and of course him being my twin, he was my best friend,” Miles Kredich said. “Ben was and is still amazing.”
Ben Kredich was on his way to meet his father, University of Tennessee swimming and diving coach Matt Kredich, at Sunspot on Cumberland Avenue when he was hit and killed.
Now working in public transportation in Chicago, Miles Kredich recently returned to Knoxville to speak with YES Knoxville, a local advocacy group focused on expanding housing and transportation options.
“We need to advocate for it and the advocacy will lead to the proper investment in expanding service and expanding options,” Kredich said. “Cars are a great option, but they become problematic when they become the only option.”
YES Knoxville board president Jack Coker said Kredich offers valuable insight based on both his personal experience and professional work.
“He can offer us a lot of perspective on how we can obtain that goal and blind spots on things we can improve here in Knoxville,” Coker said.
Kredich pointed to the need for more diverse transit options, including the potential for rail service, which he says could provide safer alternatives for getting to events like football games and concerts.
“A rail system would allow people to go to a Tennessee football game without having to get behind the wheel… safely and reliably,” he said.
The driver responsible for Ben Kredich’s death, Shannon Walker, began serving an eight-year prison sentence in 2024.
Kredich says he hopes Knoxville will invest in transportation systems that reduce reliance on cars and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
