WICHITA FALLS ( KFDX/KJTL ) — The family of Carlos Hernandez attended the Wichita Falls City Council regular session meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, advocating not just for the memorial marker but also for Hernandez.

The family calls this a win as they continue to grieve nearly a year later.

“There have been 400 reported accidents in the last ten years on Maplewood alone, nine of them being in the exact spot of Carlos’s accident,” Hernandez’s aunt, Melanie Gamble, said.

The family said since the city asked them to remove the memorial cross where his accident occurred, it set them back.

“It felt like a slap in the face,” Melanie Gamble said.

According to Hernandez’s mom, Anna Gamble, over 2,000 signatures were collected to petition the marker to be put back.

The city listened to Gamble and the community, coming up with a solution.

“The application would be for, initially for the placement of the marker and then subsequent renewals after that for one year would be in writing. There is no charge for the application.” Wichita Falls Director of Development Services Terry Floyd said.

Just a sheet of paper stating where the marker will be and contact information.

Also, the memorial must be of certain dimensions. Memorials are not to be more than 30 inches tall, no more than 12 inches buried, and not in concrete, a standard the city adopted from the Texas Department of Transportation.

The compromise provides a simple resolution to the months of work for Gamble and her family.

“I’m glad I’m the last mom that’s going to have to deal with this. I’m glad that our voices were finally heard. Today was a win, and I could finally be at peace,” Anna Gamle said.

Hernandez’s aunt believes it sends a message to councilors—too many accidents happen on Maplewood.

“We’re coming on a year now after a tragic death on that same very road, and still nothing has been done about it. We see it, and we’re going to speak out on it, and we’re going to fight until the road is safe.” Melanie Gamble said.

As the family continues to grieve for Hernandez, they hope to continue its mission to make Maplewood safe so no family has to suffer.

Anna Gamble said they have a new memorial cross in the works. They plan to place it in about a week after it’s done and the city approves the application.

Melanie Gamble said they still want to push for a guardrail to be placed along Maplewood.

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