‘Slow down’: Vigil calls for change at Madera County intersection

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Families gathered on Sunday night for a vigil, grieving their loved ones they have tragically lost to the intersection on Avenue 12 near Highway 41.

The dangerous intersection has caused heartbreak and loss for many families in the community.

“There’s been loss of lives and there’s been three major accidents in one week alone. And it’s just been tragic,” Rahcel Gooch said.

Crystal Wiggins is just one of many who attended the vigil, grieving the loss of her best friend.

“Brittney, she was one of my best friends. All she was doing was going to work. So heartbreaking. She was just going to work and now she’s never going to go home,” Wiggins said.

The community is calling for a change.

“I’m asking for people to be aware, make the change I’m asking for the county, to be aware, make change not just for her, but for everybody else that had accidents in this area all up and down 12, not just right here, but all up and down 12,” Wiggins said.

Shanna Robbins lost her daughter in an accident at the intersection.

“Three miles. It’s about three miles from here to where her accident was. You know how fast you can get in three miles? People need to slow down. They need to put stoplights up,” Robbins said.

Robbins — calling attention to what can be done to stop these tragedies, so that no more families have to experience pain that may never heal.

“I want people to slow down. I don’t know that 40 miles an hour is a smart choice to go from here to there, but at least be conscious that it’s 55 and keep your eyes open, that’s where I’m at,” Robbins said.

Families mourning the loss of their loved ones ask, in addition to adding more safety precautions to the roads, drivers need to be more mindful of the risk they are taking when driving recklessly.

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