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Amanda Rogers was decorating for Christmas on Nov. 10 when a car crashed through the wall of her home near 67th Avenue and Beardsley Road in Glendale, trapping Rogers and leaving her in critical condition.
She died a week later.
The incident has shaken the neighborhood, said Andy Czarnecki, who lives a few doors down from Rogers’ home.
“People don’t feel safe in their homes anymore, because they’re afraid that a vehicle may come crashing into their yard, or into their home,” he said. “God knows what could happen and who else could get hurt.”
Czarnecki said that speeding is a problem in the area. By his recollection, cars have crashed into people’s homes or the wall surrounding the neighborhood several times over the past two years.
Since Rogers’ death, Czarnecki and his neighbors went to their homeowners association to ask for support installing speed bumps which is dealt with at the city level.
“It’s really gotten out of control,” Czarnecki said. “We’re fearful for our granddaughters when they come and visit, to be playing out in the front yard or riding their bikes. We’re very concerned.”
He is worried about how Rogers’ family, which includes two young children, will fare in the wake of her death. He urged people to donate to a fundraiser in support of the family, which has been circulating online.
“The family’s going to be struggling, and they need help,” Czarnecki said.
Czarnecki was watching television when the accident happened. His daughter was the first one to realize something was amiss.
“She said she heard something that sounded like gunshots,” he said. “A few moments later, we heard sirens. Next thing I know, my daughter’s like, ‘Look out the window.’”
Czarnecki went outside and saw emergency vehicles, fire trucks, police and a car sitting inside Rogers’ house.
He provided firefighters with a car jack that helped the rescue team free Rogers and rush her to the hospital in critical condition.
Czarnecki met Rogers several times over the years. She impressed him as a good mother, always “doing things for the kids.” Natalie Wright, a friend of the family, described Rogers online as “the first person to help” and “the most selfless person we know.”
Announcing Rogers’ death, Glendale police spokesperson Jose Santiago said the investigation was “very complex” and still ongoing.
Occupants of the car included a woman and two unidentified people. Investigators determined speed and impairment to be factors in the collision, though police have not announced any arrests.
