A woman was reportedly killed at a California park on Saturday when she was run over by a lawnmower.
Modesto police said a contractor at Beard Brook Park was on a tractor with a pull-behind mower when he ran over Christine Chavez, 27. The landscaping company explained to KCRA that Chavez was lying in a weeded area, and their employee only realized he ran someone over after noticing a body on the mowed grass.
According to KCRA, the landscaper called 911 but Chavez died at the scene.
The Modesto Bee reported that Chavez had been homeless for three to four years and she was known to frequent the park. Chavez’s older brother told the newspaper that they saw the grisly scene — which included pieces of human remains and scattered clothing roughly 50 feet from where the deadly incident occurred.
He also alleged that relatives found additional body parts on subsequent trips to the park.
Other homeless people at the park allegedly told Chavez’s family that they saw her wash her hair in the creek and go to sleep on a hill by the playground 20 minutes before her death.
Stanislaus County coroners are investigating Chavez’s death.
“My mom had to pick up pieces of her,” Chavez’s older brother told the Modesto Bee. “We want ordinances to change so it doesn’t happen again. Regardless if they are homeless they are still people and should be treated the same as any other people.”
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[Featured image: Christine Chavez/KCRA video screengrab]
