Landscape Workers Mourn Accident Victims

A pair of September traffic accidents have left five landscape-related workers dead, shocking fellow employees at two California workplaces.

On Sept. 10, a van carrying ValleyCrest landscape workers from the Bay Area to a job site in Brentwood, Calif. was struck by a Chevy Camaro near the border of Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Four workers died in the tragedy.

The four ValleyCrest crewmembers killed included:

• Foreman Ignacio Alejandre, 37, an Oakland resident who had been with ValleyCrest for 10 years. Ignacio leaves behind his wife Catalina, 14-year-old son Ignacio and 11-year-old daughter Yesenia.
• Jesus Ventura-Gutierrez, 60, an Oakland, resident. Jesus leaves behind his wife Amalia, 7 children between the ages of 15 and 32, spouses of 4 of his children and 11 grandchildren.
• Jose Villagomez, 38, a San Leandro resident. Jose leaves behind his wife Mercedes, 2 sons - Salvador, 13 and Jose Antonio, 1 and 2 daughters - Elizabeth, 12 and Karina, 8.
• Armando Alejandre, 20, also from Oakland and Ignacio Alejandre's nephew.
• Ignacio Ventura, 21, remains hospitalized with serious injuries.

California Highway Patrol officers conducting the investigation reported that the driver, Ignacio Alejandre, did everything possible to avoid the accident.

?EUR??,,????'??In the most tragic event in our company's 55-year history, a reckless driver claimed the lives of our employees and their loss is immeasurable to us,?EUR??,,????'?? said Sperber. ?EUR??,,????'??Our thoughts and prayers go to their families, wives, children, and friends.?EUR??,,????'??

In addition, Sperber announced that ValleyCrest has established The Pleasanton Crew Memorial Fund to provide assistance to the families. All contributions should be sent to Mary Clancy, ValleyCrest Companies, 24151 Ventura Boulevard, Calabasas, CA 91302, attn: Pleasanton Crew Memorial Fund.

Another September Tragedy

Less than a month after the ValleyCrest incident, another Bay Area traffic accident claimed an employee from another landscape-related business. On Sept. 29, graphic design artist Nathan Cistone died when another driver crashed head-on into Cistone's vehicle on Hwy. 101 in San Mateo.

Cistone died in the impact. The other driver was arrested on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter.

Cistone, 27, worked for the international planning and design firm EDAW, Inc. in San Francisco and was planning on speaking at a Bay Area Unitarian congregation the day after the incident.

Coworker Jessica Michaels expressed her shock to the San Jose Mercury News.

?EUR??,,????'??It's mind-boggling that this could happen,?EUR??,,????'?? she told the paper.