A Tree Planting Ceremony Will Be Held on June 2, 2004 in Memory of Kaycie Lynn Blood at Mesquite Elementary School

Business Wire,  June 1, 2004  

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News Editors/Legal Writers

APPLE VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 2004

A tree planting ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2, 2004 at Mesquite Elementary School, 12951 Mesquite Road, Apple Valley, CA., in memory of Kaycie Lynn Blood, who was tragically killed last year just after she had graduated from the second grade. The all-school assembly will be led by Principal David Mobley and attended by Kaycie's parents, Larry and Amy Blood, and her brother, Shane, age 12. The family will dedicate a Flowering Plum tree in Kaycie's name, which is the gift of an anonymous donor and comes from the Cal Herbold Nursery in Hesperia, CA. Little Debbies has donated snacks and the local Wal-Mart and Albertsons Grocery Store have donated special prizes for the children.

"Our little girl Kaycie would have turned nine on May 30th," said Larry Blood, "and we wanted to do something special to celebrate her memory in a way that would be meaningful to us and to the community. The planting of a tree at her school seemed like just the right thing to do. We're thankful for the support that we've received from everyone at Mesquite Elementary School and the community of Apple Valley to help make this possible."

"In dedicating a tree to Kaycie's memory, our family is also dedicating itself to the cause of raising awareness about the dangers of blind spots behind large, oversized vehicles," explained Amy Blood. "We don't want to see another child backed over and killed. That's why we will be working to help get laws enacted that will require garbage trucks, delivery vehicles, vans, pickup trucks and SUVs to have appropriate warning sensors and visual devices that will compensate for their larger blind spots.

"But, until our lawmakers take action," added Amy Blood, "I hope that anyone who owns a larger sized vehicle will do the responsible thing by installing a rear vision system. We commend people like David Mendoza and his company, HitchCAM Corporation (www.hitchcam.com) for coming up with solutions to the blind spot problem, and we've even put a HitchCAM on our family's Toyota 4 Runner. Some people may think that such devices are an accessory, but we strongly believe that they are really a necessity that can help prevent accidents and save lives."

"Kaycie Lynn Blood's death is a senseless tragedy," said Janette E. Fennell, founder and president of Kids And Cars (www.kidsandcars.org), "and I am deeply saddened to have to add her story to our website. In 2003, at least 72 children were backed over and killed in the United States by large vehicles such as vans, SUVs and trucks, and this year, that number has already soared to at least 23 such deaths. Perhaps, with the planting of a tree in Kaycie's honor, our lawmakers will finally step up to the plate and enact laws to effectively and immediately deal with this deadly problem."

Editor's Note:

On June 20, 2003, eight-year-old Kaycie Lynn Blood was riding her purple 20-inch bicycle in the Tu-Su Circle cul-de-sac in Apple Valley, CA. At the same time, an AVCO Disposal, Inc. trash collection truck was in the Tu-Su Circle cul-de-sac collecting trash. The truck driver had reversed the vehicle to execute a three-point turn to exit the cul-de-sac. The audible back-up warning device, as required under the California Vehicle Code, did not operate. Kaycie Blood was struck by the garbage truck, which caused massive blunt force trauma to her head, killing her.

Avco Disposal, Inc. is the company which the County of San Bernardino Public Works Department Solid Waste Management Division, through Burrtec Waste-Industries, contracted with for waste collection in Apple Valley. The Bloods filed a wrongful death lawsuit on February 19, 2004, in San Bernardino Superior Court, and are represented by Timothy J. Wheeler and Geoffrey S. Wells with the Santa Monica, CA. law firm of Greene, Broillet, Panish & Wheeler, LLP. The Estate of Kaycie Blood vs. County of San Bernardino, Case No. SCVSS 112775.

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