A local advocacy group is urging action after multiple deadly pedestrian collisions in El Cerrito, including the death of Donna Revecho, 66, a Richmond Annex resident fatally struck in a marked crosswalk on San Pablo Avenue on Nov. 15.
Revecho died of her injuries on Dec. 4, the El Cerrito Police Department reported. The vigil will be held Monday, Dec. 22, 2-2:30 p.m., at the corner where she was hit on San Pablo and Waldo avenues.
Participants are encouraged to bring flowers or memorial items, wear reflective gear, and carry signs urging drivers to slow down. Suggested messages include “RIP DONNA,” “CARS: SLOW DOWN!” and “THIS IS A CROSSWALK: SLOW DOWN.”
El Cerrito/Richmond Annex Walk & Roll says recent fatal collisions, including a Dec. 15 crash that killed a 57-year-old woman on Eastshore Boulevard near San Pablo Avenue, show the urgent need for slower, safer streets. In yet another incident on Nov. 7, a pedestrian was struck in a crosswalk at San Pablo and Madison avenues during evening hours, suffering serious injuries.
Caltrans, which owns and oversees San Pablo Avenue (otherwise known as State Route 123), is planning a major pavement project on San Pablo Avenue, with construction anticipated to begin summer 2026. The work is expected to include some safety features such as flashing beacons and high-visibility crosswalk treatments. Waldo Avenue is slated to receive new signage, for example. But city leaders and advocates say these improvements won’t come soon enough, nor do they go far enough
“San Pablo is El Cerrito’s most dangerous street,” Councilmember Rebecca Saltzman wrote on Facebook following recent crashes, adding “we must make it safer to protect lives.”
Council meetings highlight ongoing safety push
At the Nov. 18 and Dec. 2 City Council meetings, staff and council members discussed collaboration with Caltrans on upcoming safety and pavement work on San Pablo Avenue (State Route 123), pointing out that the state agency owns the roadway, which complicates local control. Councilmembers stressed that repaving alone, without safety changes, risks increased vehicle speeds, underscoring the need for safety improvrements.
At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, resident and Walk & Roll committee member Janet Byron urged immediate action. Byron, who lives on San Pablo Avenue, described daily experiences of “cars barreling through red lights and pedestrian beacons even when the walk signal is on,” and called the thoroughfare “terrifying” for people walking. She noted that crashes have also damaged local businesses, delaying openings and forcing closures.
While acknowledging Caltrans plans to add flashing beacons and other pedestrian safety features during next year’s repaving project, Byron argued those measures won’t be enough. She proposed short-term safety improvements, including 25 hour speed limits, installing automated speeding and red-light cameras and increasing pedestrian crossing time at intersections.
“Speed kills, and cars and trucks are simply driving too fast on city streets, especially on San Pablo Avenue,” she said.
For more information on the vigil or local street safety efforts, email info@ecrawalkroll.com.