Mother, 27, killed after being run over by lawn mower in California park as horrified family find her remains
A mother has been brutally killed after being run over by a lawn mower in a California park.
Christine Chavez, 27, was lying in an area overgrown with weeds when she was run over by a park worker mowing the grass.
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The grass cutter drove a John Deere tractor with a trailed lawn mower at Beard Brook Park in Modesto.
He only discovered Christine – who had a nine-year-old daughter – after he ran her over in the horrific accident on July 8.
Her devastated father, Christopher Chavez, said he found “parts” of her body scattered in the grass after rushing to the scene.
Some of their clothes were also left behind.
“There were a lot of parts[of her remains]there and I called the police,” Christopher told Fox40.
“I was there and I still have bits of bone, like parts of her skull and some teeth. It’s terrible.”
Another family member said, “I mean, big chunks of her are all over the place just covered in grass.”
“We have to go, you know, we just want to see the place.” And to be right there, looking at the floor and then seeing clumps of hair, is awful.”
Esmeralda Chavez, Christine’s sister, said the mother was sleeping in the park at the time.
She said: “It’s so painful to imagine my sister waking up so horribly – it’s just the worst way to die.”
“It hurts so much that she just slept and didn’t hurt anyone.”
Christine’s brother Randy Chavez, 33, said: “My sister was loved. All she wanted was to be free.”
He said she enjoys singing and writing poetry and dreams of being famous – he described her as a “great and pure soul”.
Park owners, E&J Gallo Winery, said their employee did not see Christine – who was homeless at the time – because she was lying in a patch of tall weeds.
The company bought the 12-hectare park just a day before Christine’s death.
It said: “On Saturday, July 8, 2023, a landscape contractor was hired to carry out weed control and fire protection work.”
“Around 12 noon there was an accident involving the contractor’s tractor and an unseen person lying in a high area overgrown with weeds.
“The contractor immediately contacted Modesto Police and on arrival MPD officers stated that the person was deceased.
“Gallo offers his sincere condolences to the family of the victim.”
Grover Landscaping Services, who mowed the grass at the park, said: “In a dry, overgrown area, our worker discovered the body of a woman who had been hit by the towed lawn mower, after which he contacted the Modesto Police Department.”
“We are deeply saddened by these events.
“Our hearts and her condolences go out to her friends and family.”
Both companies said they would cooperate with any investigation into Christine’s death.
Christine’s family vowed to see justice done for their daughter.
Her mother, Josefina Chavez, said: “I am saddened by what happened to my daughter and we want justice for the way she died.”
Christine’s daughter is now cared for by her family.
You launched one GoFundMe to raise money for the nine-year-old.
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