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On a heartfelt Wednesday evening broadcast, Tina Bourgeois, Stepmother of the late Tristan Bourgeois, shared her story for the first time since the tragic crash that claimed her son's life on Highway 74. Her message: something must change.

Tina, joined by reporters and community advocates, discussed the dangers of the notoriously unsafe highway and her efforts to support Assembly Bill 1145—a proposed law aimed at enforcing truck safety regulations. The bill, championed alongside Jeff Gonzalez and Greg Wallace, seeks to restrict dangerously heavy and non-compliant trucks from using the winding, mountainous route.

“Highway 74 has been a ticking time bomb for years,” Tina said. “We’re not against truckers—we’re for safety and enforcement.” Her mission is deeply personal. She brought a favorite photo of Tristan, showing him fishing—his peaceful place. “I look at this photo every day. It keeps me going.”

Tina recounted an incident where a truck dangerously cut in front of a school bus. Despite calling 911 and sharing dashcam footage, there was no enforcement. “Where was the CHP on April 14th?” she asked, highlighting a lack of oversight on the route.

Now, Tina is urging the public to act: sign the petition on Change.org, submit testimony through the California legislature portal, and support AB 1

Wednesday, April 16, 2025