A tragic moment on Highway 74 has become a catalyst for change, thanks in part to a brave 9-year-old boy who witnessed the devastating crash that claimed the life of Tristan Bourgeois.
On Halloween morning, JT was riding to school with his mother, Katie, when they saw a big rig lose control. In a gripping interview with Fred Roggin, Katie recalled the terrifying moments before the crash and the impact it’s had on their lives.
"I watched the rig come out of a turnout and could smell the brakes immediately," she said. "I knew there was no way they would make it past another turn." Moments later, the trailer disconnected and slammed into a car, cutting it in half. Katie immediately called 911 and parked in a turnout near the crash to prevent other drivers from seeing the wreckage.
JT later wrote a letter describing what he saw:
“The car went out of control. The trailer disconnected and went into a car and sliced it in half… I kept saying ‘oh my gosh.’”
That letter is now part of a growing campaign for change. It will be submitted to the State Transportation Board during a hearing in Sacramento on April 21. The Bourgeois family, local officials, and Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez are working together to propose safety measures, including restrictions on large commercial trucks using the winding, narrow mountain road.
“It’s terrifying,” Katie said. “So many of these truck drivers don’t know how to handle these conditions. It’s not just a one-time incident. It happens too often.”
JT’s courage and his mother's advocacy are helping shine a light on a dangerous stretch of highway. Now, the mountain community is urging others who’ve had similar experiences to speak up and submit letters before the April 21 hearing.
Fred Roggin ended the interview by bringing JT on camera and commending him: “You are a very brave young man to write that.”
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By: Fred Roggin
April 8, 2025
