Petition launched to close North Bay road where fatal accident claimed lives of 4 teens

(KRON) — An online petition has been launched to close a section of roadway where a fiery crash claimed the lives of four teenage girls and left two others with life-changing injuries. The petition, which was posted at Change.org, calls for restricting San Geronimo Valley Road to non-motorized usage only until further notice.

On Friday, April 18, a Volkswagen Tiguan with six high school girls between the ages of 14 to 16 was traveling along the roadway west of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard when it struck a tree and burst into flames. Three of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

A fourth was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Two other victims were hospitalized. One of them has since been discharged.

According to the petition, this is not the first accident on the road involving teenage drivers.

“Last year around this time, a car accident left two high school students critically injured right here on San Geronimo Valley Road,” it states. “Just a couple of days ago, tragedy struck again, claiming the lives of four of our young ones, sophomore girls, in another horrific car collision.”

“The victims were all on their way home, on the same road we have known, loved, and even feared, because of its reputation for danger,” the petition continued.

The petition states that the road is widely used for non-automotive traffic, with horse riders, cyclists and joggers frequenting it. The organizers of the petition also argue that San Geronimo Valley Road is not a crucial transportation artery, “so closing it to cars will not significantly disrupt local traffic patterns, while transforming it from a dangerous road to a safe space for non-motorized transport and leisurely walks.”

The petition organizers list the families of several of the most recent tragedy’s victims as supporters. At the time of this report, 88 signatures verified by the petition have been gathered.