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Kings County proclaims National Crime Victims’ Week; DA announces quilt unveiling honoring 16 victims
Summary
The Board adopted a resolution proclaiming National Crime Victims’ Week; Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker and staff announced a quilt-unveiling ceremony April 10 honoring 16 victims, most killed in vehicle collisions.
The Kings County Board of Supervisors on April 8 adopted a resolution proclaiming National Crime Victims’ Week and heard from District Attorney Sarah Hacker about memorial events and victim services.
Hacker described the week as a chance to honor victims and support survivors and credited her office’s advocates for outreach, court accompaniment and access to services including funds to help families with funeral costs. She announced a quilt unveiling ceremony scheduled for April 10 at 6 p.m. (location as stated in the meeting) to memorialize 16 victims from the past year.
Hacker read the names and locations associated with the 16 individual memorials: Rosa Angela Pena (Hanford); Arturo Torres Gomez (Avenal); Catalina Cervantes Hernandez (Avenal); Richard Manuel Hernandez Jr. (Corcoran); Antonio Escamilla (Corcoran); Jonathan Sanchez (Selma? noted in transcript as "settlement city"); Cassandra Brianne Golob (Hanford); Brandon Moreno (Hanford); Jorge Zavala (Visalia; family from Hanford); Bruce Davis Avalos (Hanford); Ricky Valdez (Hanford); Angel Manuel Alvarez (Lemoore/Kettleman City referenced); Chelsea Gutierrez (Hanford); Jonathan Serna (Hanford); Kelly Jane Rivera (Hanford); Juan Carlos Alonso (Avenal).
Hacker said 10 of the 16 deaths were motor-vehicle collisions; of those, two involved driving under the influence and eight were described as vehicular manslaughter or crashes tied to carelessness. "Vehicle collisions are entirely avoidable," Hacker said, urging residents not to drive impaired and to use available options to get home safely.
The board adopted the resolution by unanimous roll-call vote (Joe Neves: yes; Richard Valle: yes; Doug Berbuon: yes; Rusty Robinson: yes; Robert Thayer: yes).
Why it matters: The DA’s office uses the week and the quilt ceremony to highlight victims’ experiences, memorialize those lost and promote outreach and prevention work. Hacker also said the DA’s office will honor a fallen first responder, Captain Eads of the Kings County Fire Department, at the ceremony.
Ending: The quilt unveiling is scheduled for April 10 at 6 p.m.; the DA’s office will display the memorial and provide information about victim services and advocacy resources.
