Los padres de víctima en Lunada piden quitamiedos con 26.000 firmas
The parents of a 20-year-old young man who died last March in a traffic accident at the Lunada port have collected over 26,000 signatures on Change.org requesting the immediate installation of guardrails on the road where their son and three friends lost their lives.
«The last time I spoke to my son, he was very excited. He had two hours left to reach the rural cabin he had reserved with his friends to celebrate his 21st birthday,» writes Sonia García in her petition. «But he didn’t make it. 15 minutes away from his destination, his car went off the road, plummeted down a 400-meter-high slope, and died. Also, the three friends who were with him.»
Sonia García is the mother of Izán, one of the four fatal victims of the accident that took place last March at the Puerto de Lunada. Her son turned 21 a few days after the accident, which is why he and his friends had traveled from Madrid to celebrate in a rural cabin.
«We are devastated. No one prepares you to say goodbye to your child thinking that he will return in a few days, only to have your life shattered by a phone call telling you that you will never see him again. The anger of knowing that he died because there was no guardrail where there should have been any protection is unbearable,» they point out.
Izán’s parents claim that their son’s death could have been prevented. That is why they have started a signature collection on Change.org/Guardrails asking for «the immediate installation of guardrails on the CA-643-Puerto de Lunada road (Cantabria)». In less than five days, their initiative garnered the support of over 25,000 people, and as of this Monday, they have surpassed 26,000.
They state that this road is «extremely dangerous.» «This happened almost two months ago, on March 15th. But more people had already died there, and the residents have been asking for guardrails for years. The Government of Cantabria pledged to install them but did not follow through. If this had been done earlier, my son would probably still be alive. His friends, all 20 and 21 years old with their whole lives ahead of them, would be too.»
They address their plea to the Government of Cantabria, asking, «How many more people have to die at that point on the road for you to react? My son will not return. Neither will his friends. But to prevent future victims, we still have time. Please, do not lie to us anymore. Act NOW. Guardrails save lives.»
Additionally, they request that this «very dangerous» road be better signposted, closed in adverse weather conditions, and converted into a one-way street.
OTHER PETITIONS
The petition by Izan’s parents is not the only signature collection created on Change.org these days with this objective. A friend of another victim has also started a petition requesting the installation of these guardrails.
«My best friend died in a traffic accident. She was 20 years old with her whole life ahead of her. What angers me is knowing that she died because of the system, because if this has happened (not just this time) it is because guardrails were not installed at the Puerto de Lunada, as they promised a long time ago. Please, let there be no more tragedies and install a guardrail now.»
Izán’s parents also urge for a prompt response. «Let’s act before we have to mourn more deaths, please. If the guardrails had been installed when promised, we wouldn’t be making this petition today, nor mourning the loss of Izan, Ana, Afra, and Juan Ramón. No more avoidable deaths, please. On behalf of their families and friends: thank you for signing and sharing.»
