Community members invite Morgan Hill residents to help raise awareness of traffic-related injuries and support the family of two children who were hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle downtown July 4.
A “yellow candle campaign” and downtown march is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 17, starting in front of Alain Pinel Realtors, 17200 Monterey Road, according to event organizer Mark Preader of Heroes4Hope.
“The recent Fourth of July accident has left the community in sadness, despair and anger,” Preader said in a press release. “However, during this challenging time the only people that should really be focused on are those children and family that was affected by this…as we focus on raising the proper awareness to help tragic events like this from happening.”
At the July 17 event, Heroes4Hope will donate 250 yellow ribbons that attendees can pin to their clothing, as well as 100 yellow candles that participants can carry as they march through downtown to show support.
The July 4 accident took place about 9 p.m. at the intersection of Monterey Road and Fourth Street. Two boys—a 13-year-old and a 6-year-old—were crossing eastbound on the Fourth Street crosswalk when a white Jeep struck them, according to police. The Jeep was traveling northbound.
The 13-year-old was riding a bicycle and the younger child was riding a scooter at the time, police said.
When officers arrived to the scene, one of the juveniles was trapped under the vehicle, according to police. Both pedestrians were transported to Valley Medical Center.
Police do not suspect alcohol or drugs to be a factor in the accident. Police said the female adult driver of the Jeep remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities.
The July 4 accident is the second collision involving a pedestrian downtown in 2016. The first accident took place March 12, when a gray Ford hit two female pedestrians in the crosswalk at Third Street and Monterey Road. One of those pedestrians was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries, and was released later that evening, according to police.
Heroes4Hope is a nonprofit whose mission is to impact and empower children and teach them that they can be a hero, according to the group’s website heroes4hope.us.
