West Sacramento is grappling with a tragedy that unfolded on a dusty trail near Jefferson Boulevard, where a fire department brush rig accidentally ran over two people sleeping on the ground, leaving one man dead and a woman critically injured. The accident occurred on Friday morning when firefighters responded to a brush fire and inadvertently drove over a carpet under which the pair lay concealed.
Jerry Delgado, son of the injured woman, Katie Petrina Mota, is seeking answers and accountability after the incident. Mota, who officials say has been unhoused for about 15 years, was transported to UC Davis Medical Center with serious injuries. "How does something like this ever happen," Delgado questioned in a statement obtained by ABC10. "Is there negligence?" West Sacramento Fire Department officials have said that a spotter was leading the fire engine on the path at the time of the accident.
The identity of the deceased man has not been made public, but he was remembered fondly by Juan José, who told KCRA, "I’ll be praying for her, you know, to recover. You know, I never expected for that to happen." His friend worked at a recycling center and desired a change in lifestyle, a chance now forever lost.
Rudolph John Kraintz of Safe Ground Sacramento emphasized the risk for people without a home sleeping in areas like streets that are not designed for rest. "Streets are not designed for bedrooms. We need to make places for people to go," Kraintz told KCRA. He advocates for the use of vacant properties as "safe grounds" for those without housing, a call for practical short-term solutions amid a looming housing crisis.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident, and according to a statement provided by ABC10, the West Sacramento Fire Department has placed the personnel involved on paid administrative leave. Jerry Delgado remains hopeful as he awaits his mother's recovery, stating, "Thankfully, she pulled through, and we still have her. Everybody’s there, waiting for her to wake up, and we’re ready to move forward with this."
