Driver’s Education Class Back After Fatal Accident

A Driver Education class will be brought back to Parlier High School after 9 year old Diego Estrada was struck and killed by a 17 year old driver two months ago.

Diego Estrada was walking to school near Tuolumne St and Madsen Ave when a Parlier High School student lost control of the truck he was driving and struck a brick wall then the young boy. Many lives changed after the tragedy.

Parlier Superintendent Gerardo Alvarez said "It’s a tragedy that is shared all around through the victim, the driver and the community as a whole."

Everyone involved in the fatal accident on January 29th were students in the Parlier School District. Superintendent Alvarez decided something needed to be done to prevent similar accidents and believes offering driver’s education is the best solution. The class was cut in 2008 when many school districts in California suffered from a budget deficit.

"Not offering it allows parents to teach the driving their way versus the correct way in the state of California," Claudia Moore said.

Parlier Police reported the 17 year old driver that struck the boy was unlicensed and traumatized because the accident wasn’t malicious.

Alvarez plans to use a $ 250,000 grant on simulators and trainings to offer a driver’s education class at the high school at the beginning of the next school year. "Letting them know the importance of getting a license, learning the laws practicing good driving behaviors," Alvarez said.