A tragic incident in Modesto, California has left a family grieving and demanding justice after a homeless woman was run over and killed by a lawnmower.
The victim, 27-year-old Christine Chavez, was found dead in Beard Brook Park on July 8.
According to reports, Chavez was sleeping in a patch of tall grass at the park when a landscaping contractor hired by the city of Modesto accidentally ran over her with a John Deere tractor and a pull-behind mower. The worker, who remains unidentified, called 911 immediately after the incident. However, when first responders arrived, it was too late, and Chavez was pronounced dead.
Modesto police stated that the worker claimed he didn't see the sleeping woman until he noticed her body in the grass after making a pass with the lawnmower. The victim's family expressed their shock and horror at the gruesome scene. Christine's father, Christopher Chavez, revealed that pieces of her remains were scattered throughout the 12-acre park. He said, "There were many pieces of (her remains) around there, and I called the police. I went there, and I still have pieces of bones, like pieces of her skull and some teeth. It's terrible."
Rosalinda Chavez, Christine's sister, described the devastating experience of visiting the park and discovering her sister's remains. She said, "They left big (pieces) of her all over the place, just covered up with the grass. We have to go see the place because we wanted some kind of closure, and to be right there, looking at the ground, and then all of a sudden, seeing (pieces) of her, is horrible."
The grieving mother, Josefina Chavez, expressed her sadness and called for justice for her daughter's untimely death. Christine's older brother, Randy Chavez, emphasized that his sister deserved better treatment, regardless of her homeless status. He said, "She didn't deserve that for that reason, for being homeless. My sister was loved. The only thing she wanted was to be free."
The family is now demanding changes to local ordinances to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. Randy Chavez stated, "We want ordinances to change so it doesn't happen again. Regardless if they are homeless, they are still people and should be treated the same as any other people."
In response to the incident, Grover Landscaping Services, Inc., the contractor involved, released a statement expressing their condolences. They stated, "In a dry, overgrown area, our operator discovered the body of a woman impacted by the pull-behind mower, at which time he contacted the Modesto Police Department."
Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen expressed her condolences and apologized for the tragic event. Meanwhile, Dez Martinez, founder of the homeless advocacy group We Are Not Invisible, called for immediate action to provide safe camping sites for the homeless population in Modesto. Martinez emphasized the need for safety and protection from violence for those seeking help and support.
Christine Chavez leaves behind a 9-year-old daughter, who now faces the devastating loss of her mother. As the family mourns their loved one, they continue to seek justice and hope that changes will be made to prevent similar accidents in the future.
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