A tragic accident in Modesto has left a family and an organization that supports the unhoused devastated. A woman lying in an overgrown field was run over and killed by a landscaping contractor hired by the city.
The victim was 27-year-old Christine Chavez, an unhoused individual who was in Beard Brook Park when the incident occurred. Her father, Christopher Chavez, reported finding pieces of her remains at the site of her death, a discovery that has left him and his family in profound grief and shock.
The organization We Are Not Invisible addressed city leaders at a recent council meeting, emphasizing that Chavez’s father wouldn’t have the chance to say goodbye to his daughter at a proper funeral. Mayor Sue Zwahlen expressed her condolences, and Modesto Police Spokeswoman Sharon Bear referred to the incident as a “terrible accident”.
Christine’s mother and siblings have been gathering to express their sorrow and frustration, calling for justice in the wake of her tragic death. The family is now planning to care for Christine’s 9-year-old daughter.
E & J Gallo Winery, the owner of Beard Brook Park, and Grover Landscaping Services, Inc., the landscaping contractor, are cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities. Both have expressed their condolences to the Chavez family.
This tragic incident underscores the need for comprehensive safety measures, particularly when operating heavy machinery in public spaces. Furthermore, it highlights the pressing need for improved support and resources for the unhoused population.