Sacramento Vigil Honors 32 Crash Victims And Calls For Safer Roads

Sacramento’s traffic deaths have reached a crisis level, prompting city officials to consider declaring a state of emergency. This pressing issue was powerfully underscored on January 2, 2025, when a somber mood filled the air as mourners gathered in Downtown Sacramento for a vigil to honor car crash victims. Despite the sorrow, the crowd remained hopeful and called for action and change to improve road safety in the city.

Dozens of people lit candles not only to remember those killed in traffic collisions but also to draw attention to the ongoing issue plaguing the city. Their cries and peaceful protest continued throughout the day, refusing to view these tragedies as mere accidents.

At the vigil’s center, 32 traffic cones formed a circle, each representing lives lost in traffic accidents in the city in 2024. Each cone bore the name of a victim, serving as a poignant reminder of their absence.

Michelle Silva, whose late husband’s name was written on one of the cones, urged city leaders to take more action to prevent such accidents. “These tragedies are not inevitable,” she said, echoing the crowd’s sentiments. “They are preventable. They should not have happened.”

A Vigil In Memory Of Lives Lost And To Call For Traffic Safety

Isaac Gonzalez, founder of Slow Down Sacramento, an organization advocating for safer roads, lamented that the crisis is disproportionate to the rest of California. He noted that the city’s streets are among the most dangerous in the state. The organization was created to drive behavioral change, raise awareness, and improve traffic safety in response to rising injuries and deaths on the city’s streets.

The group hosted the vigil with the intention of making it an annual event. Doing so helps humanize and honor the lives lost, ensuring their stories aren’t forgotten and reduced to mere statistics. Every day, real people with complex lives die because of other people’s negligence on the road.

Personal Stories From The Sacramento Vigil

The somber yet powerful vigil brought together families and friends to honor the lives of those lost too soon due to tragic accidents. Through personal stories of love, loss, and resilience, attendees were touched by the heartfelt tributes to José Luis Silva and Andrew “Drew” Pringle, each a symbol of the profound impact that reckless driving can have on families and communities.

Remembering José Luis Silva: A Husband Taken Too Soon

José Luis Silva, a beloved husband and father, was one of the 32 individuals honored during the vigil. On August 25, 2024, José lost his life in a U-Haul truck accident at the intersection of J and 24th Streets in Midtown Sacramento. At 55 years old, José still had many cherished years ahead with his family, making his untimely death all the more devastating.

At the vigil, Michelle Silva, José’s grieving widow, placed a photo of the two of them together beside an orange cone bearing his name and date of death. When she addressed the crowd, her voice quivered with emotion as she implored city officials to take decisive action to prevent further tragedies. Her courage and resilience stood as a powerful reminder of the need to fight for a safer community despite the overwhelming pain of loss.

Andrew Pringle: A Young Life Cut Short

Andrew “Drew” Pringle was only 21 years old when his life was tragically ended by a reckless driver on April 23, 2023. Drew was skateboarding through a crosswalk at Folsom Boulevard when a motorist, running a red light, struck him. The collision left Drew with fatal injuries, a harrowing detail that underscored the dangers faced by pedestrians and cyclists on Sacramento’s roads.

Drew’s older sister, Erika Pringle, spoke passionately at the vigil. Her words resonated deeply as she called for stricter penalties for negligent drivers who take lives. “The current system doesn’t just fail families like mine,” Erika stated, “it fails the entire community by allowing this cycle of loss to continue.” While Erika and her family mourn Drew’s death, they take solace in knowing he saved two lives as an organ donor, leaving a legacy of heroism even in tragedy.

As the vigil came to a close, the echoes of mourning mingled with a steadfast resolve for change. The stories shared illuminated not only the sorrow of loss but also the strength found in advocacy and community solidarity. José and Drew’s legacies will live on in the hearts of those who loved them, serving as a rallying cry for safer roads and stricter consequences for negligent driving. Attendees left with a renewed commitment to honor the memories of the lost by pushing for a future where no family has to endure the pain of such preventable tragedies.

The Response From The City And Community

The message during the 2025 vigil was clear: traffic deaths are not accidents. The city shares this sentiment and has instituted the “Vision Zero” initiative in 2017, promising to eliminate all traffic deaths and injuries by 2027. However, achieving this goal has proven challenging, as current statistics indicate that the city is significantly behind schedule in fulfilling its commitment.

Improving Road Infrastructure

Councilmember Caity Maple, who also spoke in the vigil, claimed tactical urbanization is part of the solution to the city’s crisis. This method involves upgrading the environment and road infrastructure and implementing easy and quick-build projects at the city’s most dangerous intersections.

Maple believes funding is crucial to making such necessary improvements. Therefore, she will focus on legislation this year to help guarantee construction projects have sufficient funds and support. During the Thursday vigil, Maple spoke about securing a permanent funding source for these projects. She proposed a ballot measure in the upcoming 2026 election. Two other council members who were there, namely Roger Dickinson and Phil Pluckebaum, also called for more funding.

Declaring A State Of Emergency

Maple has proposed declaring a state of emergency to enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists, among the most vulnerable road users in traffic accidents. The aim is to encourage drivers to reduce their speed, improving safety for those inside vehicles.

This declaration would prompt the city manager to seek funding for vital initiatives. These initiatives include public awareness campaigns focused on the dangers of reckless driving and increased enforcement of traffic laws. The city council is expected to decide on this proposal by spring 2025.

The Lack Of Funding

Slow Down Sacramento’s founder also reiterated the pressing need for funding to address critical road improvement projects and expand bike lanes. As more residents desire to live in a city where they can safely walk, bike, or use scooters, the demand for safer infrastructure has become increasingly urgent.

However, the organization reports that over 750 major regional transportation projects remain unfunded. These projects will cost billions and take years or decades to be completed. While these long-term projects aim to enhance the city’s safety and development, Sacramento’s streets face immediate issues that cannot wait. Advocacy and awareness efforts by groups like Slow Down Sacramento are currently focused on addressing these urgent, short-term safety concerns.

Advocacy Groups And Initiatives Leading The Change In Sacramento

By aiming to make the vigil an annual event, residents and city officials are reminded to continue reducing and ultimately eliminating traffic deaths and injuries. Amidst the ongoing effort, the need for more public awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement of traffic laws remains. More importantly, more substantial community involvement is encouraged.

Consider speeding, for instance, a significant cause of motor vehicle accidents. Speeding raises the risk of collisions and serious injuries, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. To improve street safety, it’s essential to encourage drivers to abide by speed limits and yield to pedestrians. This is why addressing speeding is a priority for the city and advocacy groups, highlighting the need for community involvement in this urgent issue.

The following are some groups and initiatives that aim to improve road safety in Sacramento:

Slow Down Sacramento

The group that hosted the vigil is dedicated to promoting safer Sacramento streets for all by fostering change in every road user, from drivers and cyclists to pedestrians. Slow Down Sacramento welcomes local businesses, organizations, and initiatives to join its cause of inspiring residents to drive safely, carefully, and slowly and become better and more responsible road users.

Its goal is to promote safe and responsible driving and enforcement of speed limits in Sacramento to reduce collisions. The group intends to advocate for policy changes, raise public awareness, and encourage individuals and organizations to do their part. The endgame is a city where speed limits are respected willingly instead of being enforced and where caution and respect reign.

The group’s strategies involve encouraging residents to participate, organizing events and campaigns to promote safe driving, using social media to connect with more people, and partnering with other organizations to amplify their impact.

Sacramento Area Bike Advocates (SABA)

SABA has been doing its part to make Sacramento a better, cleaner, healthier, and happier place, but with a focus on cyclists. Since August last year, the organization has been promoting the California E-Bike Incentive Program, which provides up to $2,000 in incentives to purchase a new electric bike.

Beyond this, SABA’s initiatives include:

• Improving bike infrastructure and making Sacramento streets safer.
• Providing skills training on the fundamentals of riding a bicycle safely and confidently.
• Keeping bikes moving safely by offering free maintenance inspections and easy fixes.
• Encouraging more people to choose e-bikes for short trips around town.
• Providing support for businesses to encourage them to make their spaces more bike-friendly.
• Using its very own Bike Valet program to transform community events into bike-friendly locations.

Vision Zero Sacramento And Sacramento’s General Plan

The vigil’s central message that traffic collisions are not mere “accidents” aligns closely with the philosophy behind Vision Zero, a program adopted by the city of Sacramento. Vision Zero asserts that traffic crashes are preventable and should be systematically addressed through proactive measures. The city and its partners are committed to turning this philosophy into reality.

Sacramento established its Vision Zero Task Force and started its Vision Zero Action Plan in October 2016. The City Council then adopted a resolution in January 2017. Vision Zero offers a holistic framework for lowering road fatalities and serious injuries. The city pledges that through education, enforcement, engineering, and data-driven effort, it will work collaboratively to eradicate traffic deaths and severe injuries by 2027.

Apart from over 40 measures to improve transportation safety, part of adopting the Vision Zero Action Plan involves identifying the roads with the most deaths and injuries and designating them as “high injury networks.” Both roads where José, the rider fatally struck by a U-Haul truck, are part of these corridors. With only two remaining years before the promise is set to be accomplished, the city claims it has made great strides toward achieving Vision Zero.

Sacramento’s 2035 General Plan, adopted in March 2015, includes the Mobility Element. It aligns perfectly with Vision Zero’s ambitious goals. With a vision to revolutionize transportation, the plan aims to enhance multimodal options for everyone. Picture a network of safe, inviting streets where all city dwellers feel at home. Transit connections will be seamless, while a comprehensive bike network promotes cycling for all. Safe crossings and well-maintained sidewalks will intertwine throughout the city, ensuring every journey is secure and accessible.

Progress Update

The city’s Department of Public Works Transportation Division released its Vision Zero Update: Summer 2023 to show how far it has accomplished achieving its goal. The city has indeed completed several projects, including the following:

• Reducing Speed Limits In School Zones — In 2019, Sacramento lowered the speed limit to 15 mph near 115 schools, affecting 225 road segments. By February 2020, 368 new signs and 71 new signposts were installed.
• “Our Safety Is Homegrown” Campaign — The city launched a public service announcement campaign throughout the summer of 2018 to encourage individual actions to promote safer roadways.
• The J Street Safety Project — Construction projects intended to reduce traffic, increase pedestrian crossing safety, and create protected bikeways along J Street were finished by August 2018.

The city also obtained funds for the final design and construction of its Top 5 corridors identified as high-injury networks:

• Marysville Boulevard from North Avenue to Arcade Boulevard
• El Camino Avenue from Del Paso Boulevard to the paved levee trail adjacent to Steelhead Creek
• Broadway or Stockton Boulevard from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to 13th Avenue
• South Stockton Boulevard from McMahon Drive to Patterson Way
• Florin Road from 24th Street to Munson Way

Challenges

Sacramento is falling behind in its goal to achieve Vision Zero by 2027. While former and incumbent city council members discussed funding infrastructure upgrades, meaningful actions were rarely taken. The Sacramento Bee reported that the council did not significantly improve how it funded the necessary projects years after the pledge. Instead, the upgrades are supported mainly by grants created by Public Works staffers.

The council adopted Active Transportation Commission roadway safety recommendations in June but did not fund them. These recommendations for 2025 will be presented at a Personnel and Public Employees Committee meeting before the June budget vote. Meanwhile, while city officials continue to deliberate, traffic accidents resulting in deaths and serious injuries continue to happen.

Increased Traffic Fatalities And Injuries

Here’s the grim reality: according to the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), Sacramento ranks third in the state in terms of the number of traffic accidents resulting in injuries and deaths. In 2023, the city recorded 3,572 of these crashes. Between 2019 and 2023, the average fatal and injury crash rate is 3,511.4 annually.

• 2022: 3,515
• 2021: 3,888
• 2020: 2,933
• 2019: 3,649

The truth is, although the intention was good, promising to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries within a decade now seems unrealistic in hindsight. Still, the city believes that without Vision Zero initiatives, the figures would have been much worse. The city argues that the significant road projects, including the ongoing traffic lanes reconfiguration and reduction project on Broadway, and other investments it made have saved lives.

These changes are countermeasures supported by data. Still, Sacramento admits that slowing down drivers is, in itself, a slow process. Different projects have varying timelines, from eight to 20 years, depending on the time it takes to get federal, state, and local grants. Lastly, there is the never-ending issue of securing the necessary funding, which could be anywhere from 12 to 20 million dollars a mile.

Understand Your Legal Rights After A Traffic Accident

If you or someone you care about is a victim of a motor vehicle accident, it’s okay to feel powerless after the tragedy. The pain can be overwhelming, and you may have to go through tough days, weeks, or months. It’s important to give yourself the time and space to process the event, whether reflecting quietly on your own or sharing your feelings when you’re ready. Most importantly, remember that life doesn’t stop after an accident, nor do your options for moving forward.

As you heal from the injuries caused by the car accident, you should know that there is a legal recourse for you. California law provides legal avenues for crash victims and their families to get justice and compensation for their damage.

You can recover damages for personal injury or wrongful death. An injury claim can cover your medical expenses, the cost of having your car and other belongings repaired or replaced, and your pain and suffering. You can also be compensated for your lost income due to missed work days. Understanding the full scope of your losses is crucial to ensuring you receive fair compensation.

To navigate the legal system of traffic accidents, you need at least a basic understanding of the applicable laws and regulations. Also, knowing your options and the steps you can take can help ensure you go through the legal claims process efficiently and receive fair compensation for your harm.

Insurance and personal injury claims can be troublesome, so you should arm yourself with enough knowledge and work with proper legal professionals who will advocate for your interests.

What Should You Do After A Car Accident?

There are steps you can take to ensure your well-being and safeguard your rights to compensation after a car accident. Any reliable and experienced lawyer for car accident victims will advise you to do the following:

1. Prioritize Safety — The first and most crucial step is to ensure that you and the others involved in the accident are safe. If possible, move your car or yourself to a safe spot away from the traffic flow.
2. Check For Injuries — Try to examine yourself and others for injuries. Get medical attention even if you are not in pain (adrenaline is likely still in effect) or you don’t see any injuries (some are not noticeable immediately).
3. Record The Scene — Take photos and videos of the accident scene if possible. Capture the damages to your vehicle, all dangerous road conditions, the injuries you sustained, and other relevant details like skid marks.
4. Exchange Information — Ask the other motorist involved for their phone numbers, addresses, and insurance details, and offer to give them yours. If there are any eyewitnesses, get their contact details politely.
5. Speak With An Attorney — Contact expert car accident lawyers to safeguard your rights and guarantee fair treatment from insurance companies. Do not deal with insurers without legal counsel.

Questions Sacramento Crash Victims Ask

If you’ve been injured in a crash in Sacramento, you likely have many questions about what to do next. You might find these questions helpful in navigating the next steps after a crash. If you have other questions, reach out to (888) 488-1391 to get free accident lawyer advice.

Can A Lawyer Help With My Motor Vehicle Accident Case?

You might wonder, “Do I need a personal injury lawyer to handle my claim?” It’s normal to question whether you need an attorney who handles car accident claims after getting injured in one. An injury attorney is not required when pursuing compensation, but hiring one increases your chances significantly of obtaining the full financial recovery you need.

The physical and emotional effects, as well as the financial burdens, can be immense and overwhelming. The associated expenses, ranging from medical treatments to auto repairs and lost wages, can increase rapidly.

You deserve the maximum compensation possible, but insurance companies may prioritize their profits instead of your claim, resorting to unfair tactics to reduce your payout. A skilled auto accident attorney will handle the complex legal proceedings of your case. They will deal with the other parties and insurance providers to get you the most money possible.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Car Accident Attorney?

Most car accident lawyers take cases on a contingency fee basis. This fee structure means they only get paid if they win your case and reach a settlement. Usually, their fee is a portion of the money you are paid, but all the details are discussed beforehand to ensure transparency. Two common factors that may affect this percentage are how complicated the case is and how experienced your attorney is.

The cost of hiring a lawyer is a common and expected concern after a car accident. With contingency fee arrangements, accident victims do not face additional financial burdens. This also helps ensure everyone can access exceptional legal services at no upfront costs.

Are You A Crash Victim? Arash Law Can Help

The vigil is a stark reminder of the pressing need to reduce the number of people killed and injured by traffic accidents every year. These tragedies should not be a normal part of life. Like Michelle Silva and Erika Pringle, who persevere after losing loved ones, you can contribute to the change Sacramento needs. Whether you’re a crash victim, a family member of one, or fortunate enough to have avoided such a loss, practicing safe driving habits can help make Sacramento’s streets safer for everyone.

At Arash Law, we share victims’ grief and are dedicated to joining the fight for safer roads. By helping them recover compensation and holding negligent road users accountable for their actions, our car accident lawyers help remind everyone to be responsible and continue driving safely.

Meanwhile, if a traffic crash injures you or takes away a loved one, Arash Law is here to help. As one of California’s most prominent personal injury law firms, we can handle even the most complex cases. We will handle all negotiations with insurers and fight for your full and just compensation. We’ve won over half a billion dollars in awards and settlements for clients, and we’re ready to help you, too. Call (888) 488-1391 or complete our “Do I Have A Case?” form to get started.