On January 12, 2024, at 7 am, a Tesla driving westbound on 152 near Lake Road decided to use the eastbound lane to attempt to pass a large trailer when it collided with the front edge of an oncoming vehicle and caused the Tesla to lose control and hit an oncoming 2017 Dodge. Two adults and three children-- ages 1,4, and 7-- were traveling in the Dodge from Morgan Hill. 7-year-old Elisa and 4-year-old Valentina tragically lost their lives due to injuries.

This accident is not the first cross-median accident to happen on Highway 152. Google "Highway 152 fatal accident," and you'll be faced with many more articles about major collisions on 152 that could have been prevented with proper road safety measures and better speed enforcement. Commuters of the 152 must come together now to stand for better road safety precautions to prevent more families from being affected by poor driving environments throughout their regular commute. Major and fatal accidents on 152 (especially between Fraizer Lake Road and Lovers Lane) must stop being seen as a common occurrence. These accidents are becoming too much to look away from. Elisa and Valentina could have been spared had there been a K-rail or some other type of road barrier on that span of 152. The least the counties involved and CalTrans can do is improve the roads by safeguarding innocent drivers from the potential bad decisions of reckless drivers.

Here's what we're petitioning for:

Lane Dividers: Dividers MUST be placed on the span between Fraizer Lake Road and San Felipe Road. Too many collisions have happened within this boundary of 152. The roads are tight on this span of 152 and can cause accidental cross-median collisions in an instant due to speeding, attempts to pass other drivers, loss of wheel control, drunk driving, or drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Safety measures need to be installed here, and dividers sound like the most prominent and instant change that can happen here. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and Fatality Analysis Reporting System, only 8% of all fatalities on divided highways are due to head-on crashes. Dividers make a huge difference. Median dividers also work as road characteristics where one needs to slow down-- inadvertently helping with speed (a known factor in 27% of rural road fatalities).

Speed Enforcement and Management: CHP must be more present and actively tackle speeding on ALL of 152. Speeds regularly exceed 90 mph on roads meant to hit 65 mph. These speeds endanger commuters and make it difficult to drive safely 152. It's common to see large big rigs going over 80 mph on the pass. Drivers are constantly a brake check away from a major accident. More enforcement and stiffer penalties for the offenders would make a difference!

Updated Safety Countermeasures: Is there any signage that needs to be implemented on 152 to let drivers know to slow down? Is current signage helpful? Are road lines and markers visible at night? Do additional barriers need to be placed throughout 152 to avoid further cross-median collisions (i.e., the span of road between San Felipe Road and the 152/156 flyover)? These are questions the counties involved and Caltrans should be making when looking to improve the roads on 152 for all drivers.

Now is the time to act. If you or a loved one are a frequent commuter of Highway 152, please sign this petition to get the attention of local government officials to make a difference on this road. Commuting on 152 has increased within the last few years, so it only makes sense to increase the need to look at these roads and see where improvements need to be made. Let's keep families and loved ones safe on Highway 152! 

 

WRITE TO LOCAL DECISION-MAKERS

Would you like to help make a difference? Please consider writing to your local city offices, surrounding city offices near 152, Santa Clara County, or district representatives! Feel free to use this template letter to email to your choice of representative.

Notable people to contact:

Gavin Newsom (Governor of California) - Contact Info

Zoe Lofgren (California 18th District Representative) - Contact Info

Sylvia Arenas (Santa Clara County District 1 Supervisor) - Contact Info

California Office of Traffic Safety - ContactOTS@ots.ca.gov

San Benito County Council - Contact Info

Marie Blankley (Gilroy, CA Mayor) - Contact Info

Mia Casey (Hollister, CA Mayor) - Contact Info

Mark Turner (Morgan Hill, CA Mayor) - Contact Info

CalTrans (District 4 / Santa Clara County Contact) - caltrans_d4@dot.ca.gov

CalTrans (District 10 / Merced County Contact) - District10publicaffairs@dot.ca.gov

CalTrans Service Request- Fill-Out Form Here

PLEASE ALSO CONSIDER DONATING TO ELISA & VALENTINA'S FAMILY HERE

 

(Data taken from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and FARS.)