The family of a homeless mother who was killed after being run over by a lawnmower while sleeping in California park have shared their horror at the circumstances of her tragic death.
She was tragically run over by an unnamed employee driving a John Deere tractor with a pull-behind lawnmower as he attempted to clear the area.
Modesto police said that the worker didn’t see Chavez was sleeping there until he "noticed a body in the grass he had already made a pass through," via the New York Post.
US Woman Dies After Being Run Over By Lawn Mower At Park
— shakir Berawala (@shakirBerawala) July 17, 2023
The woman was identified as Christine Chavez, 27. She was pronounced dead at the scene and released to the coroner. pic.twitter.com/EmuA8nQaH4
After dialing 911, the worker informed emergency services, but unfortunately, Chavez was declared deceased at the scene due to the severity of her injuries.
Chavez's grief-stricken family later expressed their anguish, stating that their sorrow was compounded when they visited the location and discovered "pieces" of their beloved family member's remains that they believe had not been properly cleared by investigators.
Rosalinda, Chavez's sister, shared with Fox 40: "They left large fragments of her scattered around, simply covered by the grass. We went to the site seeking some form of closure, and to witness chunks of her still present on the ground was absolutely horrifying."
She further remarked, "Even when they retrieve a dog from the street, they take more care."
Christopher, Chavez's father, also asserted that in the days following her passing, he came across fragments of his daughter's bones, skull, and teeth in the vicinity.
The family has slammed the clean-up following the tragic accident, claiming they believe it was handled with less care because Chavez was unhoused.
According to reports from the Modesto Bee, Chavez - who has a nine-year-old daughter - had been transient for the last three or four years and had often slept in the park.
The 12-acre park was once an authorized camping site for the homeless in the area but was officially acquires by E&J Gallo Winery the day before Chavez's death, the publication states.
Other unhoused people in the area said they had seen Chavez wash her hair in the creek in the park before heading to a hill near the playground and baseball field to sleep, just 20 minutes before the landscaper came through the area with the lawnmower.
Chavez's family is now battling for justice for their loved one and calling for stronger policies to protect homeless people in California.
Her brother, Randy Chavez, added: "She didn’t deserve that for that reason, for being homeless. My sister was loved. The only thing she wanted was to be free.
"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."
Our thoughts are with Christine Chavez's family at this devastating time.
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