Family Hopes Sailor’s Death In Falls Twp. Will Save Others

Blake Sims’ family knows they can’t bring him back, but they hope others will live because of him.

Blake’s family traveled last Friday from rural Jackson County, Florida, which sits about an hour from Tallahassee, to Falls Township to remember the 24-year-old man who died when he lost control of his Indian Scout motorcycle in May along Mill Creek Parkway.

A sign reminding others to travel safely now sits at the spot where the crash happened near Poet Lane. It was installed by Blake’s family and Falls Township police last Friday.

“Drive safely – in memory – Blake Anthony Sims – 5/21/96 – 5/17/21,” the black-text-on-white-background sign reads.

Police said Blake’s hat blew off as he rode through Levittown. When that happened, he instinctively turned around to see where it went. In that split second, he lost control of his fast-moving motorcycle and ended up succumbing to his injuries at the scene.

Azur Barber and James Sims spoke with LevittownNow.com about their son and their hope that his death helps keep others safe.

The two described their son as a prankster who was intelligent and loved life.

Blake joined the Navy in 2017 and was stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, where he worked on C-130 transport planes. He recently returned from a short deployment to Italy and was just days away from his birthday.

Around the time Barber learned of her son’s death, she was about to get on a plane to visit him for his upcoming birthday, she recalled through tears.

When asked why Blake joined the Navy, his mother said: “He wanted to see the world.”

Austin Selman, Blake’s close friend, said his buddy knew how to pull a good prank. He also recalled the good times he had with Blake, including the many trips to get food at his favorite chain Zaxby’s.

“He lived a fast-paced lifestyle,” Selman said. “He didn’t wait for things to come around.”

Celeste Santos, a sailor who was befriended by Blake, spoke of how welcoming of her he was when she was new to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

James Sims said Blake had loved traveling at high speeds since he was a young boy riding with his dad. The two were planning a road trip to a bike rally in Florida.

“Oh, he loved going fast,” James Sims said.

Barber agreed and laughed with tears welling up in her eyes.

She recalled a story when Blake was a little boy. He was urging his father to push his older truck to go faster as they traveled.

“Faster, daddy. Go faster!” Barber recalled her son saying.

James Sims said he always worried about his son and whether he was wearing a helmet when on his motorcycle, which he had only bought weeks before.

“I always told him to wear a helmet,” he said.

Blake’s parents said they want people to hear his story and asked motorcyclists to wear a helmet.

Barber said her son wasn’t honest with her about wearing a helmet while riding, adding he must have known she would be upset if she knew he wasn’t wearing one.

“If you ride bikes, wear a helmet,” James Sims said.

Blake’s family knew of a program in Florida that places signs asking motorists to drive safe in memory of those who died in wrecks. The signs are placed in the area of fatal crashes.

Barber was in contact with Falls Township police and asked Sgt. Chris Clark about whether there was a similar program in Pennsylvania.

Clark told her there wasn’t, but the Falls Township Police Department was interested after Barber told them about the sign program.

They spent some time learning more about the effort. After getting specs for the sign from officials in Florida, Falls Township decided to adopt the program to put memorial markers at the sites of fatal crashes.

“The Falls Township Memorial Marker Program will commemorate those who died as of a result of a vehicle-related crash in Falls Township. It is our hope that others who see this sign will reflect on Blake Sims, and while reflecting on this tragedy, choose to drive safety and make the roads safer for everyone,” township police Chief Nelson Whitney said.

Bucks County Deputy District Attorney Robert James, who handles serious motor vehicle crash investigations, thanked Blake’s family for helping make the sign possible.

“This is a selfless thing that you’re doing today to memorialize a loved one,” he said.

The veteran prosecutor noted that he will proposed expanding the program throughout the county when he meets with police chiefs.

Following unveiling of the sign, Blake’s family attended a memorial at the military base in New Jersey. Blake’s remains were buried at sea after being dropped from one of the C-130 planes he was assigned to work on.

“It’s what he wanted,” his mother said.

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