Delano neighbors rally for family, call for walking safety
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DELANO, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — The death of a 12-year-old student at La Vina Middle School who was struck by a truck has left neighbors rallying to help her family, and the Delano Union School District is seeking ways to improve safety for students who walk to and from school.
"We want to make sure our kids are safe," said Delano Union School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Aguilar.
The school district plans on meeting with Delano city officials to plead their case for installing a traffic light at the intersection of Browning Road and Summer Drive where Shaylyn Pinoliar was struck.
The seventh-grade student was walking to school early Wednesday morning. Police say she was in a crosswalk when a driver made a right hand turn from Summer Drive onto Browning Road. The driver of a Ford F250 pickup apparently did not see the child and struck her. The driver did stop and tried to render aid.
At Nanay's restaurant, customers are contributing whatever they can and place money in a plastic jar at the counter.
"We are all helping each other as much as we can," said owner Rosa Cadiz.
Students at Morningside School have raised $1,200 for Shaylyn's family. A fundraiser is planned for November 21 at Nanay's Restaurant at 1727 Cecil Ave. in Delano and the public is encouraged to attend.
"We want to make sure our kids are safe," said Delano Union School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Aguilar.
The school district plans on meeting with Delano city officials to plead their case for installing a traffic light at the intersection of Browning Road and Summer Drive where Shaylyn Pinoliar was struck.
The seventh-grade student was walking to school early Wednesday morning. Police say she was in a crosswalk when a driver made a right hand turn from Summer Drive onto Browning Road. The driver of a Ford F250 pickup apparently did not see the child and struck her. The driver did stop and tried to render aid.
At Nanay's restaurant, customers are contributing whatever they can and place money in a plastic jar at the counter.
"We are all helping each other as much as we can," said owner Rosa Cadiz.
Students at Morningside School have raised $1,200 for Shaylyn's family. A fundraiser is planned for November 21 at Nanay's Restaurant at 1727 Cecil Ave. in Delano and the public is encouraged to attend.
It's unfortunate what happened and my prayers are with the pinoliar family but the school district and the city are looking at the wrong solution in this case. What they need to look into is finding a way to make the raised trucks (monster trucks) illegal to drive. Had the driver been driving a regular vehicle or even a stock truck she would have seen her crossing the crosswalk.
 @justice661 Oh look, another idiot. The truck is not at fault here. Guess what, I drive a lifted truck and have been for the past 20 years. Wanna know how many accidents I've been in? Zero. And how many "close-calls"? Zero. You know why? Because I pay attention. The driver is 100% at fault here and the vehicle had nothing to do with it. In fact, in many cases a truck will provide even better visibility than a regular car. I can see much farther and much better in my truck than I ever could in a typical car. Clearly the driver was still looking left when they decided to make that right turn. It wouldn't have made any difference whatsoever what the car was in that case. The driver would probably still hit the poor kid even on a moped.