deaths

BLS: On-the-job deaths up among older workers; Latino deaths down

Washington – On-the-job fatalities in 2014 increased to 4,679, more than one-third of which occurred among older workers, according to a preliminary report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.




deaths

Construction employment, deaths increase since end of recession: report

Silver Spring, MD – Construction worker fatalities have increased 16 percent since 2011, outpacing an increase in construction employment during the same time period, according to a report released Oct. 26 by the Center for Construction Research and Training, also known as CPWR.




deaths

BLS: On-the-job deaths at highest level since 2008

Washington – A total of 4,836 deaths due to workplace injuries occurred in 2015 – a 0.3 percent increase over 2014 and the most since 5,214 workers died in 2008, according to data released Dec. 16 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.




deaths

‘Tragic trend’: On-the-job deaths at highest level since 2008, BLS reports

Washington — A total of 5,190 workers died from on-the-job injuries in 2016 – a 7 percent increase from 2015 and the highest number of fatalities since 5,214 workers died in 2008, according to data released Dec. 19 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.




deaths

BLS: On-the-job deaths down slightly in 2017

Washington — A total of 5,147 workers died as a result of on-the-job injuries in 2017 – a 0.8 percent decrease from 2016 – according to data released Dec. 18 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.




deaths

Gig workers make up nearly 1 in 8 on-the-job deaths: BLS

Washington — Independent workers – defined as people who are likely self-employed and performing short-term jobs with “no guarantee of future work beyond the task” – accounted for 12.3% of worker fatalities in 2016 and 2017, according to Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data released Aug. 9 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.




deaths

BLS: On-the-job deaths at highest level since 2007

Washington — A total of 5,250 workers died as a result of on-the-job injuries in 2018 – a 2% increase from 2017 and the highest number of fatalities since 5,657 were recorded in 2007, according to Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data released Dec. 17 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.




deaths

BLS: On-the-job deaths reach highest level in 12 years

Washington — A total of 5,333 workers died as a result of on-the-job injuries in 2019 – a 1.6% increase from 2018 and the highest number of fatalities since 5,657 were recorded in 2007, according to Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data released Dec. 16 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.




deaths

BLS: On-the-job deaths at lowest level in seven years

Washington — A total of 4,764 workers died as a result of on-the-job injuries in 2020 – a 10.7% decrease from the year before and the lowest number of fatalities since 4,585 were recorded in 2013, according to Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data released Dec. 16 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.




deaths

BLS: On-the-job deaths jump 8.9% in 2021, again rising above 5,000

Washington — A total of 5,190 workers died as a result of on-the-job injuries in 2021 – an 8.9% increase from the previous year, according to data released Dec. 16 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.




deaths

BLS: On-the-job deaths jump nearly 6% in 2022

Washington — A total of 5,486 workers died from on-the-job injuries in 2022 – a 5.7% increase from the previous year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Dec. 19.




deaths

OSHA looking to partner with employers to curb injuries and deaths, agency leader Doug Parker says

Orlando, FL — OSHA is seeking to harness the power of employers as a “force multiplier” to improve worker safety and health, according to agency leader Doug Parker.




deaths

Prevent on-the-job backover deaths

These types of on-the-job deaths often involve large vehicles, such as those used in transportation and construction.




deaths

Study explores top causes of driving-related deaths in oil and gas extraction industry

Washington — For oil and gas extraction workers, a combination of extended work hours, long commutes and insufficient sleep increases their odds of engaging in risky driving behaviors, according to a recent NIOSH study.




deaths

CPWR: 65% of construction deaths linked to ‘Focus Four’ hazards

Silver Spring, MD — Around two-thirds of construction worker deaths over a recent 11-year period were the result of “Focus Four”-related injuries, a new report says.




deaths

National COSH: Workplace deaths 'a wake-up call'

San Diego – Most U.S. workplace deaths are preventable, and several approaches can be taken to reduce exposures to hazardous conditions, suggests a new report from the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.




deaths

Construction worker deaths on the rise throughout New York: report

New York – Construction worker fatalities have been rising in New York City and throughout the state – and Latino workers are particularly at risk due to falls and willful violations – according to an annual report released Jan. 18 by the advocacy group New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.




deaths

Rise in worker deaths a ‘national crisis,’ AFL-CIO president says during Workers’ Memorial Week

Washington — The state of workplace safety and health protections in the United States is a “national crisis,” according to Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, which has released its annual report detailing the hazards that workers face every day on the job.




deaths

‘Deadly Skyline’: Construction deaths keep climbing in New York state, but fall in New York City

New York — Construction worker fatalities remain on the rise in New York state while continuing to decline in New York City, according to an annual report released by the advocacy group New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.




deaths

Don’t become ‘numb’ to workplace deaths and illnesses, AFL-CIO president says during Workers’ Memorial Week

Washington — AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka cautioned the public not to become “numb” to workplace fatalities and illnesses, as the labor federation released its annual report detailing the hazards workers face every day.




deaths

BLS data on workplace deaths shows significant racial disparities, National COSH says

Los Angeles — Workplace deaths as a result of trauma have increased at a significantly higher percentage for Black, Latino and Asian workers compared with white workers, according to the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.




deaths

Chlorine-related deaths prompt FRA to expand crew-safety rule

Washington — Railroads must provide atmosphere-supplying emergency escape breathing apparatus to all rail crew members who spend time in the cab of a train carrying hazardous materials, the Federal Railroad Administration says.




deaths

Fall-related deaths and injuries in construction spur OSHA weekend inspection initiative

Denver — Deaths and serious injuries resulting from falls in the construction industry in recent years have prompted OSHA to launch an initiative to inspect worksites across Colorado’s Front Range, Montana and South Dakota on weekends, “when many employers typically do not monitor their jobsites well.”




deaths

Construction worker deaths prompt winter safety campaign in NYC

New York — In response to the recent deaths of four New York City construction employees in separate workplace incidents, the NYC Department of Buildings has launched a winter construction safety campaign.




deaths

Trenching and excavation deaths rose 160% in 2022: CPWR

Silver Spring, MD — Thirty-nine workers died while performing trench/excavation work in 2022, up from 15 in 2021, according to a new report from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training.




deaths

NYC councilmember calls for database to track worker deaths

New York — Legislation recently introduced in New York City would establish a database on workplace deaths, and employers could be fined up to $2,500 per violation for not reporting data.




deaths

Workplace deaths up 12% worldwide in past two decades: report

Sydney — Global work-related deaths have jumped more than 12% since 2000, according to estimates from the International Labour Organization.




deaths

Study links drowsy driving to nearly 30,000 deaths over 5 years

Drowsy drivers were involved in 18% of all fatal crashes over a recent five-year period, leading to nearly 30,000 deaths, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates.




deaths

The leading cause of oil and gas worker deaths? Motor vehicles

Washington — Vehicle-related incidents contributed to more than a quarter of worker deaths in the oil and gas extraction industry over a recent six-year period, a recently published report shows.




deaths

Can safe driving policies reduce deaths in the oil and gas industry?

Washington — Risky driving behaviors are more common among oil and gas extraction workers whose employers don’t have a motor vehicle safety policy, NIOSH researchers say.




deaths

So-called ‘deaths of despair’ are rising in the UK. Labour must act on this silent epidemic

Rates of suicide, alcohol and drug fatalities (collectively known as “deaths of despair”) have increased by 9%, 45% and 81% respectively in England and Wales over the last decade. Given that mortality rates for most other causes are stable or decreasing, this increase is deeply concerning. In total, in 2022 these three causes accounted for […]

The post So-called ‘deaths of despair’ are rising in the UK. Labour must act on this silent epidemic was curated by information for practice.





deaths

Critics Reflect On The Deaths Of Paul Mooney, Charles Grodin And Norman Lloyd And Share Their Top Films Of 2021 So Far

Comedian Paul Mooney takes part in a discussion panel after the world premiere screening of "That's What I'm Talking About" at The Museum of Television & Radio January 30, 2006 in New York City.; Credit: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

FilmWeek

In the past couple of weeks, we’ve lost several industry icons, including Paul Mooney, Charles Grodin and Norman Lloyd. 

Actor and comedian Paul Mooney was a boundary-pushing comedian who was Richard Pryor’s longtime writing partner and whose bold, incisive musings on racism and American life made him a revered figure in stand-up. He was 79. Charles Grodin was an offbeat actor and writer who scored as a caddish newlywed in “The Heartbreak Kid” and later had roles ranging from Robert De Niro’s counterpart in the comic thriller “Midnight Run” to the bedeviled father in the “Beethoven” comedies. He was 86. Norman Lloyd’s role as kindly Dr. Daniel Auschlander on TV’s “St. Elsewhere” was a single chapter in a distinguished stage and screen career that put him in the company of Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Charlie Chaplin and other greats. He was 106. Lloyd’s son, Michael Lloyd, said his father died at his home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Today on FilmWeek, our critics reflect on their work. Plus they share a couple of their favorite films of the 2021 so far. 

With files from the Associated Press

Guests:

Angie Han, film critic for KPCC and deputy entertainment editor at Mashable; she tweets @ajhan

Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com

Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.




deaths

Florida Condo Deaths Climb To 32 As Officials Try To Pinpoint The Number Of Missing

Joe Hernandez | NPR

Crews searching the building collapse site in Surfside, Fla., have discovered four more victims since Monday, bringing the death toll to 32. Authorities have identified 26 of the bodies.

Another 113 people were unaccounted for, though local officials said they had only been able to confirm that about 70 of those people were in the building at the time of the collapse nearly two weeks ago.

Detectives are continuing to follow up on reports submitted about possible victims in the partial collapse, but in some cases they have been unable to reach those who submitted the tips in the first place.

"People call anonymously. People call and don't leave return phone numbers. People call with partial information, not enough to really secure whether that person may or may not have been in the building," Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told reporters on Tuesday.

Some of the reports of possible victims are also incomplete, she said, including a name but no apartment number or no date of birth.

Levine Cava urged people who are missing loved ones to communicate with local authorities. She said there may also be victims of the collapse who have not been reported missing.

The rescue effort stopped briefly overnight due to lightning from a passing storm. Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said high winds were hampering the cranes moving heavy debris from the collapse site.

Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez said Florida has declared a state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Elsa, which is expected to reach hurricane strength before making landfall Wednesday morning on the state's west coast.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.




deaths

Radon, Especially in Combination With Smoking, Contributes to Lung Cancer Deaths

Smokers who are exposed to radon appear to be at even greater risk for lung cancer, because the effects of smoking and radon are more powerful when the two factors are combined, says a new report by a committee of the National Research Council.




deaths

Up to 20 Percent of U.S. Trauma Deaths Could Be Prevented With Better Care

Across the current military and civilian trauma care systems, the quality of trauma care varies greatly depending on when and where an individual is injured, placing lives unnecessarily at risk, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.




deaths

New Report Lays Plan to Eliminate 90,000 Hepatitis B and C Deaths by 2030

Hepatitis B and C kill more than 20,000 people every year in the United States.




deaths

Up to 8 Million Deaths Occur in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Yearly Due to Poor-Quality Health Care, Says New Report

Recent gains against the burden of illness, injury, and disability and commitment to universal health coverage (UHC) are insufficient to close the enormous gaps that remain between what is achievable in human health and where global health stands today, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.




deaths

Federal Agencies Should Adopt Uniform Framework for Quantifying Disaster-Related Deaths, Illness, Says New Report

To more accurately quantify disaster-related deaths, injuries, and illnesses, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies supporting disaster response should adopt a uniform national framework of data collection approaches and methods for distinguishing direct from indirect disaster deaths, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.




deaths

Methods to Track Health Care Worker Deaths, Burnout from COVID-19 Examined in New Rapid Response to Government

A new rapid expert consultation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examines methods to better track and evaluate deaths and mental health consequences among health care workers (HCWs) due to COVID-19.




deaths

Deaths Involving Fentanyl on the Rise, Updates on Its Prevalence in the US

The Discovery House Shares Updates on Fentanyl and Fentanyl Addiction Treatment in America




deaths

Obesity-related heart disease deaths increased in the U.S. over the past two decades

n the U.S. who died from ischemic heart disease related to obesity increased by approximately 180% from 1999 to 2020. The highest rate of deaths ...




deaths

Swachh Bharat Mission averted 60,000-70,000 infant deaths between 2011 & 2020, shows Nature study (The Print)

Swachh Bharat Mission averted 60,000-70,000 infant deaths between 2011 & 2020, shows Nature study (The Print)

IFPRI Researchers analyzed infant & under-5 mortality data from 35 states, 640 districts. Research praised by PM Modi on X.

The post Swachh Bharat Mission averted 60,000-70,000 infant deaths between 2011 & 2020, shows Nature study (The Print) appeared first on IFPRI.




deaths

U.S. ‘National Heat Strategy’ Issued in Response to Increase in Heat-Related Deaths

The ‘National Heat Strategy’ is directing several different governmental agencies to implement four goals and objectives that are expected to increase U.S. resiliency to extreme heat conditions.




deaths

Deaths and Stillbirth Legislation: General Register Office

Room 21, Parliament Buildings



  • Committee for Finance

deaths

'More serious than we had hoped': Bird flu deaths mount among California dairy cows

Although California dairy farmers anticipated a bird flu mortality rate of less than 2%, some say between 10% and 15% of infected cattle are dying.




deaths

Health groups call for suspending state plan on maternal deaths, saying it burdens patients

Maternal health organizations and advocates are urging the California surgeon general to suspend the rollout of a plan aimed at reducing maternal mortality.




deaths

Trump Downplays Police Violence, Deaths Of Black Americans

Updated at 5:45 p.m. ET President Trump dismissed outrage over police killings, saying Tuesday that "more white people" are killed by police than Black people. "So are white people!" Trump said when asked in an interview with CBS News about why so many African Americans have been killed at the hands of police. "So are white people! What a terrible question to ask." Trump added that "more white people, by the way" are killed by police than Black people. More white people may be killed by police annually, but Black Americans are killed at a far higher rate. According to a database of police shootings since 2015 compiled by the Washington Post , 1,301 Black people have been killed by the police in the past five and a half years; 2,495 white people were killed. But, importantly, African Americans, who make up a far smaller portion of the total population than whites, are killed at a rate more than twice that of whites. In another comment also sure to inflame racial tension, Trump said that




deaths

A cheaper weight loss drug, more heat-related deaths and new restrictions on tobacco sales: Here's what happened in health this week




deaths

Safe street advocates don’t feel safe amid many car-related pedestrian deaths

By Keyshawn Davis

One October morning in 2019, 12-year-old Alena Wong got on her bike and headed to class at California Middle School. 

She followed her usual route. But as she crossed Sutterville and Mead Avenue, a high school senior driving a car struck her. The vehicle hit the back of her bike, she slid up the hood of the car and flew 10 feet in the air.

Wong sustained numerous injuries from the accident, including a broken femur, humerus, tibia, mandible, three of her teeth were broken into her jawline and she got a traumatic brain injury. 

Her father, Kevin Wong, said he found out Alena was involved in a collision and rushed to her location, at which point the police and paramedics had also arrived and were attending to her. He said Alena was taken to UC Davis Medical Center after the accident. 

“The driver was a senior at McClatchy,” Kevin Wong said. “He was actually on his way to school. He wasn’t breaking the law, he wasn't speeding. He was just driving in traffic and didn't see her. The sun was in his eyes.”

Alena Wong spent three and a half weeks in the hospital. She couldn’t remember much because of her traumatic brain injury, but as time went by she said her memory started to come back.

“My mom says I would ask, ‘Why am I here? What are we doing here?’ She'd answer me, 10 minutes later, I'd have to ask the same question because I just didn't remember,” Alena said. “She'd read the same chapter of a book to me every day until finally, I said, ‘we already read that. Why are you reading that?’”

Alena made a full recovery during her time at UC Davis Medical, her father said. During her time there, she underwent multiple surgeries plus physical and occupational therapy. By the time she left the hospital she was in a wheelchair and had to use crutches.

Although Wong survived her collision in the streets of Sacramento, that isn’t the case for many others. There have been 162 motor vehicle crash-related deaths this year, according to the Sacramento County coroner's office. Out of the 162 deaths, 16 were cyclists and 44 were pedestrians.

Sacramento Vice Mayor Caity Maple proposed a state of emergency at a City Council meeting in September as a result of the third fatal collision that occurred that month. 

“I’m devastated to see yet another person critically injured after being struck by a vehicle on Sacramento’s roads,” Maple said in September on social media. “Even beyond our City’s commitments to eliminate traffic deaths through Vision Zero, we need to take immediate and urgent action.”

Maple and her team have since been working on the proposal, which would require the city manager to identify funds for a public awareness campaign to educate drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians about traffic safety. It would also mobilize the Sacramento Police Department to ramp up enforcement of traffic laws on city streets. 

Ryan Brown, the chief of staff for Vice Mayor Maple, told CapRadio that the proposal is expected to be further discussed at the Nov. 12 Law and Legislation Committee meeting. 

“Our next steps include a series of meetings with key advocates and stakeholders (including experts in the field) who are helping make our proposal as strong as possible,” he added.

Advocates push for safety changes 

In 2021, Sacramento had the highest amount of total traffic fatalities and injuries compared to 15 other California cities with a similar population size, like San Francisco and Stockton, according to data from the California Office of Traffic Safety. The city was also in the top five California cities with the highest amount of pedestrian fatalities and injuries.

Sacramento Area Bike Advocates is a nonprofit that advocates for safe streets and bicycling infrastructure for the city. Executive Director Debra Banks said if the city had good bicycling infrastructure, it would help reduce collisions.

Banks said she’s “fearless” when she rides her bike and isn’t afraid of riding into traffic, but there are people she knows who avoid cycling altogether. 

“Those are the people that we'd love to make them feel safer, so that they would feel comfortable to ride their bike,” she said.

Banks said she was also once a victim of “vehicular violence.” Almost 10 years ago, she was hit by a 3,000-pound vehicle and was severely injured. But her experience spurred her toward activism.

“The person has paid the consequences [and] ended up going to jail. But that didn't make our streets safer,” Banks said. “It just took one person off our streets. The best way that we can make our streets safer is by changing the design of the street.”

She added she’d like to see road improvements like narrowing streets and increasing bike lanes, which makes cyclists feel safer and slow traffic.

In 2017, the city of Sacramento adopted a resolution called Vision Zero. This traffic safety policy doesn’t refer to car collisions as accidents; rather, it views them as preventable incidents that should be systematically addressed.

The Vision Zero Action Plan was adopted in 2018 with the goal to have zero traffic collision deaths in Sacramento by 2027. Banks said the city isn’t close to hitting that target. 

But Banks added she’s thrilled that there is momentum amongst the elected city council members to make changes with the state of emergency proposal. 

“That's great, but there has to be funding,” Banks said. “If there's no funding, then everything sounds great. We can draw up plans, we can sign a declaration, but without funding those streets aren't going to change because street design costs money, costs a lot of money, and Sacramento is low on funds for that.”

Slow Down Sacramento is a grassroots organization focused on increasing awareness of slowing vehicular traffic speeds. According to Executive Director Isaac Gonzalez, SDS advocates for changes to road infrastructure that make it less conducive for people to drive recklessly or at high speeds.

“The thing that we advocate for the most is changes to the built environment, because we know that through changes to the built environment, we get the results that we want,” Gonzalez said. “So narrowing lanes, decreasing the amount of opportunities for people to drive fast, making the lanes narrower, adding protected bike lanes, stop signs, that just make vehicles slow down.” 

Gonzalez said there have been “far too many people dying” on city streets, and said anyone who isn’t in a car is considered a vulnerable road user. 

“We know that crashes are going to happen. We know there's going to be collisions,” he said. “That's an eventuality with traffic, but the greatest thing that impacts whether or not that will be a fatal injury is speed.”

According to the Safe Transportation Research Center at UC Berkeley, speeding related fatalities increased in California by 16.5% between 2020 and 2021. Sacramento was in the top five counties in California for speed related fatalities and serious injuries in 2021. 

Gonzalez said as vehicle speeds go up, collisions are more likely to result in fatalities.

“If we could decrease those average vehicle speeds down to 25 miles per hour, or even 20, which would be better, we can really decrease the likelihood of a crash resulting in a fatality demonstratively,” Gonzalez said. 

City infrastructure is changing, but advocates say it could be done faster

The City of Sacramento has recently made a few changes to its streets, most notably with the Central City Mobility Project. The project includes protected bikeways and lane reductions. It has converted 5th Street from a one-way street to a two-way street as part of the project.

“That’s a new conversion. It's brand new, and it's fantastic,” Banks said. “Personally, as a cyclist and as an advocate, I would love to see every single road in the grid be turned back into a two way street.”

Banks added that SABA takes people on social rides around the city to teach cyclists about infrastructure. She said the process of learning how to navigate through the streets safely helps build confidence. 

She said many of these injuries happen at intersections: “People are doing right turns on red and if you're in a protected bike lane and it ends just as a car is coming up, they may not see you until the very last minute,” Banks said.

Gonzalez said SDS is advocating for the city to utilize quick-build tactical urbanism, which involves making rapid changes to a roadway immediately after a collision occurs. He added that these changes aren’t permanent — road workers can move pieces around to experiment with what works and what doesn't.

“When a crash happens in the city of Sacramento that results in a fatality, typically, nothing changes the next day,” he said. “Nothing may change for a very long time unless neighbors and advocates really press the city to do something.”

He said those changes could sometimes take a decade or more to happen. 

“We want the city to look at every instance of serious injury or death as it is an immediate, urgent remedy that must be required,” Gonzalez said. “We want the next day for cones and signage to go up, for temporary traffic calming measures to be implemented, and then, if successful, put in permanently. That's called tactical urbanism.”

The city of Hoboken, New Jersey has reached its own Vision Zero Action Plan goals after adopting this style of tactical urbanism. Starting in 2021, Hoboken immediately made changes to roads after serious crashes that resulted in injury or death. It hasn’t seen a traffic-related fatality on its roads since.

Over the last year, Hoboken has added multi-way stops at 14 intersections, six of which were identified as high-crash intersections. It’s also installed 418 delineators, which can help navigate drivers through hazardous conditions. An estimated 61 crosswalks were re-striped with high visibility markings, and 27 curb ramps were upgraded. 

In 2019, the New Jersey Department of Transportation awarded Hoboken over $730,000 for transportation funding, which the city used towards its Vision Zero infrastructure and safety upgrades. 

Gonzalez said he wants Sacramento to view this issue with the same urgency as Hoboken, and added it’s a solution the city can do for a lower price than permanent fixes. 

“I could go to a store today and buy the things needed to change traffic patterns on some of our hotspots and get the driver behavior that we want to see,” Gonzalez said. “But it takes policy, and it's not currently the policy in the city of Sacramento, so that's what we want to see.”

After Alena Wong’s accident in 2019, the city took some small measures to ensure that more people wouldn’t get hurt at the intersection. 

Kevin Wong, Alena’s father, said then-council member Steve Hansen’s office was working on installing a traffic light there, but it didn’t end up happening.

“They're telling us that maybe they can get something done, but ultimately, there wasn't any funding for that to get done. So nothing has been done since then,” he said.

Wong said he met with District 7 council member Rick Jennings earlier this year, who said it's his top priority to make the intersection where Alena was struck by a car safer. 

“They did say that they do want to put a mini roundabout, which is something that we have been advocating for,” Wong said.

Six months after Alena’s accident, she was able to start running and biking again. 

“She was eager to do so, in fact,” Kevin Wong said. “After leaving the hospital, physically she was able to make, I'll call it a 95% recovery. She has ongoing dental trauma.” 

Nearly five years later, Alena still rides her bike to and from school everyday.

“I remember while I was in the hospital, mainly my mindset was that I just needed to get back to where I was before, and having that one goal made it a lot easier to just push towards it,” she said. “Once it all slowed down and I looked back at it, I realized how hard it must have been.”

She said she’s realized recently that she’s glad it happened when she was 12 as opposed to the age of 40 because she can learn with her injuries, rather than have lived most of her life and then have to start a new one.

“I think that it's made a lot of who I am, like, how determined I was to get better again,” Wong said. “That's a lot of my personality now. I honestly don't know who I would be without having had that.”

Kevin said he and his wife were comforted by the fact that Alena wasn't afraid to face the fears that other people might have after her accident.

He added the family has made a habit of speaking at city council meetings, transportation-adjacent committee meetings, and various neighborhood association meetings to continue to advocate for traffic safety in Sacramento.