PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. — In the wake of their son's tragic death, Juan and Megan Grande are calling for safety improvements to made to the heavily trafficked roadway where Gabriel was hit by a truck.
“Kids are literally dying, and this is not gang violence. This is not fentanyl. It’s not bad kids. It’s just kids trying to ride their bikes," Juan and Megan said.
The stretch of road is Viewpoint Drive, which connects the north side of the town to neighborhoods to the south. It's a winding road that Prescott Valley Town Manager, Gilbert Davidson, said is an area they will be focusing on moving forward.
"One of the major goals of our council and our staff, is, how do we connect areas of our community through additional sidewalks, multi-use pathways, and it is a critical issue and a commitment that our town is making for the long term," Davidson said.
The land on the west side of this stretch of road where the crash happened, between Manley and Long Mesa drives, is owned by the state of Arizona, according to Davidson. He says the town will soon be in contact with the state land department to find ways to improve safety on their land.
“If there's areas where we can add multi-use pathways that are offset from the road that make it safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, we're always looking for those areas to make that connectivity," Davidson said.
The Grande's said their son is not the first teen boy to die while riding his bike alongside the Viewpoint Drive roadway. Two years ago, they say a family friend's son was also hit on a stretch of road a couple of miles north of where their son's happened.
“He was just a good kid. And they went riding together and for weeks, I was just pale. It was like 'I'd lost my own kid'," Megan said.
The family's concerns about roadway safety are echoed by Virginia Craig, a neighbor near where the crash occurred.
“We don't have a lot of lights out here, and they go too fast," Craig said of Viewpoint Drive. "Be a little more cautious of your surroundings. It isn't that much good to get somewhere if you don't get there in safe condition or take somebody out while you're getting there."
Davidson tells 12News a roadway safety review has already begun well before this latest bicycle crash. They hope it can help them understand which roadways need safety improvements the most. The Grande's hope this stretch of road is one of the first they examine.'
“Maybe the town can act on it," Megan said. "They need to be kids. They need to be able to run around and ride their bikes safely."
The family is raising funds for medical expenses and funeral costs. You can donate here.
Click here if you would like to help the family with a warm meal in their time of need.
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