Kids

Berkeley “Street” named for young boy killed by car

December 8, 2010 8:45 am by Frances Dinkelspiel

A new memorial for Zachary Cruz

Berkeleyside has been following the evolution of the stop sign at the corner of Derby and Warring, where 5-year old Zachary Michael Cruz was killed Feb. 27, 2009 while crossing the street. It was a terrible tragedy, one that continues to play out at the stop sign that has become a defacto memorial.

In the year following Cruz’s death, the the stop sign was continually decorated with notes and flowers. Then it became moribund. Then in early November, the artist known as Streetcolor added some of her knit art to the pole, which rejuvenated the memorial and prompted Cruz’s father to write a note to the community. Now, someone has added a replica of a Berkeley street sign to the pole. It is now Zachary’s Corner.

11 Comments

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  • Alicia

    The picture says “Zachary’s Corner”, not “Way”.

  • http://francesdinkelspiel.com/ Frances Dinkelspiel

    You are right.

  • Valenta

    I hope this addition will help me drive through the intersection without welling up around the eyes..I admired the well made sign, I hope the city will honor it!

  • Tom

    I think the intention is good, but it’s a little weird – naming the corner after the poor kid. Why is it “his corner”? Usually we memorialize people by associating their name with something positive that was connected with their life. This just strikes me as morbid…

  • Tim C.

    I always make a complete, if not long stop at that corner…one guy even honked at me from behind the last time I did!

  • Jennifer D

    And he was actually killed by a 2.5-ton truck, not a car. But it’s a terribly dangerous spot.

  • Tom

    The city should reconfigure the intersection to get rid of the right-turn bypass. That would remove any ambiguity about what drivers are supposed to do.

    I suspect that when the intersection was created in it’s current configuration, the stop was only for Derby traffic proceeding westbound THROUGH the intersection – Derby traffic turning north on Warring would have had no stop. Anybody old-timers recall?

    At any rate, wasn’t the truck involved in the accident travelling in the opposite direction? i.e. making a left turn east on Derby?

  • Jennifer D

    @Tom: yes, the truck in the fatal accident turned left, east on Derby from Warring.

  • http://www.zacharycruzfoundation.org Frank Cruz, co-director, the Zachary Michael Cruz Foundation

    @Tom: Zachary is my son. I discovered this sign had been posted early in December, when I went to the intersection where Zach was killed to leave a potted poinsettia for the holiday. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and wonder that someone (it is still unclear to my family and I exactly who put this sign up) had gone to such lengths to remember my son in this way.

    I don’t consider it morbid anymore than it was morbid to place his name on a marker at his grave in Ventura, California, where my family has roots. I do, however, respect your feelings in this regard and I agree with your remarks about other, potentially more “positive” ways to honor a life. Which is why I’m writing today.

    Please visit http://www.zacharycruzfoundation.org to learn more about one type of positive memorial that I’ve been engaged in since my son passed away. Our organization, launched just this past fall, supports pedestrian safety and educational giving, primarily in the East Bay, both as a way to preserve Zachary’s legacy and as a way to say thank you to those in our community who have offered us love, compassion, and support since we lost our son on February 27th, 2009.

    I’m truly sorry if the sign or the evolving memorial there are offensive in any way to you or others in the neighborhood. I have always tried to respect the fact that while my son died there, many, many people live there each and every day. My family and I lived just around the corner (at Dwight and Fernwald) on the day of the accident, and so we were a part of that community as well.

    I appreciate the sign because it helps me worry a little less that my son will be forgotten. His untimely death, at just 5 years old, changed a regular intersection into an almost spiritual place for me. That is the place where his beautiful little heart stopped and the nature of his being was changed forever right there on that street. That spot marks the place where my life was changed forever as well… The corner of Derby and Warring is now a permanent part of me and it will be an important place for me for as long as I live. The sign that reads “Zachary’s Corner” will remind me that what happened there has not been forgotten and that it is important to others as well. Above all, it reminds me that I AM NOT ALONE.

    I wish you all a happy and safe holiday with your friends and family. Please, remember to prioritize pedestrians as you celebrate this holiday season: reduce speed, end distractions, and obey the existing laws that were designed to protect us all.

    Yours in gratitude,

    Frank Cruz

  • Grandma Beverly

    Dear Frankie, Jodie, Miles and Zachary,
    Well family the 27th of February has come and gone yet again. As this terrible thing has happened to our family, the actual date just reminds me something that I’d just as soon forget. The day our lives changed forever. The Day I was told you were gone, Zachary, I miss you so much. We all do. The 27th just reinforces the reality of what is. You are Gone. However you will never be forgotten. NEVER! Strangers still come up to me at the intersection and ask about you, your parents and the rest of our family. It just still doesn’t feel real. The memories, photos, videos, Looking at Miles is like seeing your whole family all rolled up into this cuter than cute Little mini you, mom and dad. He says “I’m so cute.” Loves to watch shark vs. helicopter. And I’m trying to get him into NEMO. He got all worried when Bruce was trying to get Dorie and Marlin. Mom and Dad are working hard on the ZMCfoundation.org. Every time I speak about you to someone I meet I walk away and say out loud “well Zach, maybe today we saved a life.” Help us Help others for all the right reasons. Frank and and Jodie Hang in there. Miles hugs and kisses from Grandma. And a Zerburt too.:)

  • jennifer y

    My boyfriend works in Berkeley every day we commute there from hayward. Everyday we pass this corner. Out of curiosity I finally Google it. I just want to self my live to the family. I have a son the same age you beautiful son would be if he were still with us. I imagine it is still as painful now as it was just over two years ago. To the person who placed the sign I want you to know that I think that is wonderful. If it were my son I would be sincerely touched. I Will be looking into the families organization. Best of luck to you all.