Glenn Start Obituary, Death – A 49-year-old man who was fatally struck by a West Sacramento Fire Department truck last Friday morning has been identified as Glenn Start. The Yolo County Coroner’s Office confirmed his identity on Monday. Another individual involved in the incident, a woman named Katie Petrina Mota, was injured and hospitalized after also being struck by the same truck.
According to the authorities, the accident occurred near the 500 block of Jefferson Boulevard in West Sacramento. A firefighter was maneuvering a “brush rig,” a type of fire truck designed for off-road use, through a dirt trail in the area. Taylor Nelson, spokesperson for the West Sacramento Police Department, explained that there was debris scattered on the ground, and the fire truck ran over a carpet that had been left there. It was under this carpet that both Start and Mota were later found.
Sadly, Glenn Start died at the scene as a result of his injuries. Katie Petrina Mota was immediately transported to UC Davis Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries. As of the latest update, Mota remains hospitalized, and her family is awaiting more news about her condition.
West Sacramento Fire Chief Steve Binns released a public statement expressing his deep sorrow over the tragic accident. “We are grieved any time that an emergency response results in a death or injury of someone we are sworn to assist,” he said. Chief Binns also emphasized that the department is fully cooperating with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), which is conducting an investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the incident.
The death of Glenn Start and the injury of Katie Petrina Mota have left their families in shock and seeking answers. Mota’s son, Jerry Delgado, spoke to KCRA 3, expressing his frustration and confusion over the lack of information. Delgado revealed that his mother has been living without stable housing for around 15 years and has faced many challenges during that time. “I want to know what happened. My family wants to know what happened,” Delgado said. He added that it was a deeply tragic accident that resulted in the loss of life and his mother’s critical injuries. He also noted that, as of Saturday, the family was still waiting for Katie to regain consciousness and for more information from medical professionals.
This incident has also reignited discussions about the dangers faced by unhoused individuals, especially those living in areas not meant for habitation. Rudolph John Kraintz, a board director with the nonprofit organization Safe Ground Sacramento, commented on the situation, calling for more designated safe spaces for the unhoused population. Kraintz stressed that streets and dirt trails are not appropriate or safe places for people to live and rest. He advocated for the use of vacant properties as temporary “safe grounds” where unhoused individuals could set up tents or sleeping bags without fear of being in harm’s way. “Streets are not designed for bedrooms. We need to make places for people to go. That may not be housing right now, although that would be ideal. But just some way for people to have a place to throw down a sleeping bag or a tent and survive,” Kraintz said.
Safe Ground Sacramento has long pushed for the creation of safe, temporary spaces where unhoused people can sleep and rest without being exposed to traffic, construction, or other potentially dangerous situations. The tragic accident that claimed the life of Glenn Start and seriously injured Katie Petrina Mota underscores the risks that many unhoused individuals face daily.
As the investigation continues, the family of Petrina Mota remains hopeful for her recovery, while still searching for answers about how this accident occurred. In the meantime, they are waiting for further updates from doctors and investigators. Delgado and his family are seeking closure, and the West Sacramento Fire Department, along with CHP, is working to provide more information as the case unfolds.
The tragic accident serves as a somber reminder of the vulnerability of the unhoused population and the importance of creating safer living conditions for those without stable housing. The outcome of the investigation will hopefully provide clarity to both families and the broader community about what happened on that fateful morning near Jefferson Boulevard.