A park at the corner of Reagan and Mary Streets in Sanger, Ca., in the Walnut Grove subdivision was dedicated to Audry Gonzales on Monday, Audry's Birthday.
"Happy Birthday to Audry" was sung and led by Parks and Recreation Director, Becky Whited.
Published in the Sanger Herald, Oct. 1, 2009.

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"Our Baby" Audryana, baby daughter of David and Angelica Gonzales, went into the arms of the Lord in Sanger, California, at the age of two.

She is survived by her parents; sister and brother, Syria Gonzales and David H. Gonzales, both of Sanger; her grandparents, Bob and Mary Nora Gonzales of Sanger, Grandma Nora and Gus, and Ralph Rivera; great-grandmothers, Irene Prendiz of Sanger and Juanita "Nana" Preciado of Santa Ynez; and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

A Funeral Service for Audryana will be held at Bethel Community Church in Sanger on Monday, December 4, 2006, at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment at Sanger Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made to the Audryana Geneva Gonzales Memorial Fund, c/o Washington Mutual, Acct. #3133839023, at any location of your choice.

WALLIN FUNERAL HOMESSanger, CA 875-6555

Published in the Fresno Bee from 12/3/2006 - 12/10/2006.

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Church services for Audryana Geneva Gonzales, 2-year-old daughter of David and Angelica Gonzales of Sanger, will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Bethel Community Church.

Remembrances may be sent to Audryana Geneva Gonzales Memorial Fund, account No. 3133839023, in care of any Washington Mutual branch office.

Arrangements are by Wallin's Sanger Funeral Home.

www.FresnoBee.com
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Family prays for bus driver.
Kin of girl who was killed grateful for community support, grandmother says. By Louis Galvan / The Fresno Bee11/30/06 04:43:23

A memorial fund in the name of Audrey Gonzales' family has been set up at any bank branch of Washington Mutual. Donations may be made to account No. 3133839023.

The family of a 2-year-old Sanger girl struck and killed by a school bus was saying prayers for the bus driver and his family Wednesday, the girl's grandmother said.

"On behalf of the parents, they want to express their gratitude for the amount of prayers and support they have received from friends, family, neighbors, their church family, city officials and the community," said Nora Hernandez of Fresno, maternal grandmother of 2-year-old Audrey Gonzales.

"They also want to offer their prayers to the driver and his family during this period."

The investigation into Tuesday's accident in Sanger continued Wednesday, but preliminary findings indicate the driver was not at fault, the California Highway Patrol reported.

"There is no indication that the driver was negligent," said officer V. Ramirez, who is assigned to the CHP's Fresno office and is in charge of the certification program for school bus drivers.

Ramirez said it could take 10 days to two weeks for the investigation to be completed.

Ramirez identified the driver as Ernan Rodriguez, 53, of Sanger, who was driving a bus operated by Fresno County's Head Start program when the accident occurred in the 2100 block of Mary Street, just a few blocks west of the Sanger Police Department.

The child, who turned 2 on Sept. 28, lived with her parents across the street from where she was killed. The accident was reported at 4:10 p.m.

In a news release issued by the CHP, J. Acosta, identified as the investigating officer, reported the "girl was walking/running on Mary Street" when she "walked/ran towards the front of the school bus."

"The school bus was traveling eastbound on Mary Street after making a stop to drop off a pupil," Acosta reported.

"The school bus was barely moving," she reported, when the bus hit the girl.

A deputy Fresno County coroner said the girl suffered major head trauma and was declared dead at the scene at 4:14 p.m. by Sanger Fire Department emergency personnel.

At the girl's home Wednesday morning, the parents, David and Angelica Gonzales, declined to be interviewed.

Hernandez said the parents have decided not to comment until the investigation is completed.

According to a 15-year-old neighbor who said she witnessed the accident, Audrey was being held by her mother when the child broke free from her mother's hand and ran in front of the bus.

The witness, Ana Rios, said the mother had gone out to meet a second daughter who had been let off the bus.

Audrey was the sister of a Head Start pupil, said Roger Palomino, executive director of Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission.

"This is a very difficult time for everyone, and we are providing counseling to the child's family, Head Start parents, children and staff," Palomino said in a prepared statement. "Our condolences are with the child's family and those involved in this accident."

Efforts to reach Rodriguez, the bus driver, were unsuccessful.

Ramirez said she was not in her office Wednesday and she did not have access to Rodriguez's file.

Ramirez, however, said all school bus drivers have to be certified, which means they must take a minimum of 20 hours of classroom lessons, a minimum of 20 hours of driver's training, and must pass a written test and a driving test.

In addition, she said, all drivers must pass drug and alcohol screening and undergo an extensive background check.

Certifications must be renewed every five years, she said.

Ramirez, who has been in the school bus certification program for three years, said fatal accidents involving school buses are rare and that she couldn't recall any in Fresno County similar to what happened in Sanger on Tuesday.
Bee staff writer Marc Benjamin contributed to this report. The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (559) 441-6139.