A car crash claimed the life of a Gilroy woman and her
daughter
Gilroy – A car crash claimed the life of a Gilroy woman and her 10-year-old daughter, visiting from Union City, 10 days before the girl’s birthday.

Anne Berry, 38, was driving eastbound on Highway 152 near the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area last Saturday afternoon when her 1994 Ford Explorer drifted into the center divider. Overcorrecting, Berry swerved right, then left, and lost control. The van tumbled across the median, flipped and landed back on its wheels in the westbound lanes. The left side of the van was crushed.

Her 10-year-old daughter McKenna, who was sitting in the left back seat, suffered multiple blunt force injuries, including head wounds. A helicopter transported her to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, where she died during surgery at 4:16pm. Anne Berry was flown to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, and died at 9:30pm Sunday, pronounced brain dead after suffering critical injuries.

Two additional passengers, Leonard Gutierrez, 38, of Gilroy, and McKenna’s sister Starlyn, 15, were taken to Los Banos Memorial Medical Center. Gutierrez suffered major injuries; Starlyn had minor injuries.

The loss is devastating for McKenna and Starlyn’s father, Lyne Berry. Almost two years ago, he and his wife Sharon took custody of the girls and began sending them to Union City schools. Before moving, the girls had lived in Morgan Hill, where their grandmother Patricia Young lived. Young, who died two years ago, was known as an avid elementary school volunteer, gardener and artist.

Lyne Berry calls McKenna a lovable “chatterbox,” often seen rounding the block on her bicycle or staging scenes between her Cabbage Patch dolls.

“McKenna had this personality, this energy about her,” said Lyne Berry. “She loved animals, and wanted to be a vet when she grew up. She liked all living things really: dogs, birds, anything. Everything. She loved life.”

All passengers were wearing their seat belts, and alcohol isn’t believed to be a factor in the crash, said California Highway Patrol officer Mike Panelli. No external factors were observed, and no other vehicles were involved. The accident closed westbound lanes on Highway 152 for about two hours. Lyne Berry believes the group was bound for Fresno, planning to visit Gutierrez’ family.

“Right now, we’re just trying to keep the holidays normal,” he said. “We all miss McKenna, and we love her.”

HOW TO HELP

Donations for the Berry family can be brought to any Bank of the West, in the name of McKenna Berry. The account number is: 603062639.

Emily Alpert covers public safety issues for The Dispatch. She can be reached at 847-7158 or at ea*****@gi************.com.

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