A young mother from California tragically lost her life after being run over by a lawnmower while lying in a park. The incident occurred in Beard Brook Park in Modesto on July 8, leaving the family traumatized as they discovered fragments of her remains scattered in the aftermath. Christine Chavez, 27, was homeless at the time of her death and leaves behind a nine-year-old daughter who is now under the care of her family.
Christine Chavez was lying in a weed-filled area of Beard Brook Park when an employee operating a John Deere tractor with a pull-behind mower accidentally ran her over. The grass cutter was unable to see her body until after the tragic incident had occurred. Christopher Chavez, Christine’s father, arrived at the scene and was devastated to find pieces of her remains still scattered around. He immediately contacted the police, describing the horrifying sight of bones, including fragments of her skull and teeth. Another member of the family stated that there were “chunks of her” that were left behind by investigators in the grass.
E & J Gallo Winery, which had recently acquired the park, released a statement expressing their condolences to the victim’s family. The company explained that a landscaping contractor had been hired to perform weed abatement and fire prevention services on the day of the accident. The contractor promptly contacted the Modesto Police Department upon discovering the individual’s body in the tall, weeded area.
Grover Landscaping Services, responsible for cutting the grass in the park, also issued a statement, acknowledging that their operator had come across the woman’s body while operating the pull-behind mower. They immediately contacted the authorities to report the incident. Both Gallo and Grover have pledged their full cooperation with any investigation into the tragic death of Christine Chavez.
Chavez’s brother-in-law, Jose Zermeño, who has experience working with similar machinery, suspects negligence may have played a role in the accident. He emphasized the importance of attentiveness when operating machinery and expressed disbelief that the operator failed to notice anything in front of him.
At a city council meeting, Dez Martinez, a member of the homeless advocacy organization We Are Not Invisible, criticized the city’s treatment of the homeless population and expressed sympathy for Chavez’s father, who will never get to see his daughter again. Martinez called for more efforts to provide affordable housing, tiny home villages, and safe camps to protect vulnerable individuals from harm.
The tragic death of Christine Chavez in a lawnmower accident has left her family devastated and seeking justice. The incident occurred in Beard Brook Park, which had recently been acquired by E & J Gallo Winery. Both Gallo and Grover Landscaping Services, responsible for the maintenance of the park, have expressed their condolences and pledged to cooperate with the investigation.
The family is determined to hold those responsible accountable for the accident. Meanwhile, advocates are calling for improved support and resources for the homeless population to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.