Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez expressed sadness after Monday’s bus accident on Memorial Drive resulting in a 11-year-old boy’s death.
The mayor also reminded drivers to be more aware of pedestrians, especially with so many children in town, and said officials can take steps to improve safety in the area where the accident occurred.
“I just feel terrible for the family,” Velazquez said. “I have a boy that’s close to that age. It’s very sad and unfortunate. It’s terrible. He’s coming from having a good time playing at the skate park, from what I understand, and loses his life crossing the street.”
Velazquez underscored, meanwhile, how city officials are examining ways to make pedestrian routes, such as bike lanes, safer in Hollister. The mayor said officials in the next two weeks planned to have talks on local road safety and looking at new concepts for layouts on some streets. He said Memorial Drive, where Monday’s accident occurred, is on the list of roadways targeted for improvements.
Velazquez said he believes the 40 mph speed limit is too fast for the local road. He also said officials will look at possibly creating “protected” bike lanes along Memorial Drive—along with other locations—which include islands between the sidewalk and street.
“We’re looking at new concepts that are out there,” Velazquez said.
The mayor said in general—even though he doesn’t believe speed played a factor in Monday’s accident—the community’s mindset must change about speeding through the city.
“The entire community just has to understand,” he said. “Be aware. There are a lot of kids in our community.”
He went on regarding Memorial Drive where there is a large park and Sunnyslope School.
“I don’t believe any street past 35 mph is appropriate within the city,” he said. “I have an issue with people driving quickly. Once you get into town, it’s time to slow down and get home safely.”
District 3 Councilman Karson Klauer represents the area where the accident occurred and said although he had few details on the incident Tuesday morning, it is an “absolute tragedy” especially considering the victim’s age.
“It’s really brutal,” he said. “It affects the whole town.”
Klauer said the area of Memorial Drive where the accident happened—at Verdun Avenue close to the Sunnyslope Road intersection—“doesn’t strike me as a particularly dangerous area.”
“I’ll be waiting to find out from the (police) chief what exactly took place,” he said.
Authorities responded to the accident involving a transit bus and bicyclist at about 4 p.m. Monday. The victim was Joshua Rodriguez, 12, of Hollister, confirmed Capt. Eric Taylor from the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, which is the county coroner.
Responders had to perform CPR on the child in the middle of the road along Memorial Drive at Verdun Avenue near the Sunnyslope Road intersection—also close to Veterans Memorial Park and the skate park within it. Dozens of residents looked on as responders performed CPR at the intersection while a small bike lay nearby in the road and the bus remained parked along Memorial Drive. Authorities eventually moved the victim to an ambulance and transported him to Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital.
The bus was one of the County Express vehicles run by the local transit agency.
Police Chief David Westrick said in an email Monday night it was too early to comment on the victim’s helmet status at the time of the accident.
