Family pushes to change trucking laws after losing son

The town clock in downtown Santa Cruz was lit up by candles Monday. Loved ones are still trying to make sense of a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 17 in July that killed a young man.

“He was really smart, and really ambitious. Just fun, and loving,” Clark Hager said. “I’m kind of a hermit-type of guy, but he’d bring you out of your shell.”

Clark Hager never thought he’d be talking about his best-friend in the past-tense.

On July 11, an accident just south of Los Gatos on Highway 17 killed Daniel McGuire, 25, when a big-rig caused a ten car pile up.

“There were a number of injuries, and our son, was the only fatality,” Doug McGuire said.

Daniel’s parents say he was in love, and had recently graduated from San Jose State, looking forward to starting a career in business.

Their hope now is to make sure no other family has to go through this, pushing to change the law.

They’re launching a petition called “Daniel’s Law Now.”

It calls for several changes to the trucking industry, like more training, and keeping less-experienced drivers off of dangerous roads.

“Which is Highway 17, and many other highways throughout the state,” Doug McGuire said.

Over the last few years, CalTrans has made several safety improvements, but now, Daniel’s family says it’s time to hold drivers to a higher standard.

“Just more responsibility, to take care of us when we are on that road,” Laura Gray, a family friend, said. “I travel that road everyday. I was just in front of Daniel.”

The McGuires are hopeful and confident they can change the law for the community. Especially because Daniel is the second son they’ve lost in a deadly accident.

“They believe that we can, that’s an awesome responsibility,” Gail-Jean McGuire-Sais said.