Rohnert Park tragedy deeply felt in Petaluma

<p>When 2-year-old Calli Murray recently was struck and killed and her mother Ling Murray severely injured by distracted driver Kaitlyn Dunaway in a Rohnert Park crosswalk, the repercussions were acutely felt throughout Sonoma County, and particularly in Petaluma. As it turns out, Murray and Dunaway, who are both Rohnert Park residents, have similar Petaluma ties.</p><p>Murray, 40, has been an avid outside hitter in her volleyball league that played every Wednesday in a city of Petaluma Parks and Recreation league.</p><p>Eighteen-year-old Dunaway lived in Petaluma for several years and recently graduated from Petaluma High School. She was named All-Empire Volleyball Player of the Year and is currently enrolled as a freshman at Sonoma State University, where she plays on the team as a defensive specialist.</p><p>Petaluman Krista Gawronski, co-owner of Mr. Pickles sandwich shop, met Murray three years ago at a game, and says, “I find this volleyball connection that Ling and Kaitlyn shared so sad and ironic. As a mom myself, this tragedy really hit me. I spoke to Ling's husband, Jeff, the night before they put her into a medically induced coma. I let him know we were there for them.”</p><p>In 2006, Gawronski formed a grassroots fund-raising group called Fabulous Women. Two years ago, with the help of its 65 members, Gawronski raised $6,000 toward a former employee's surgery to remove a brain tumor. </p><p>Earlier this year, the group, now numbering about 300, raised $9,000 for Danny Cox, the Petaluma High School student who suffered severe paralysis in a swimming accident. </p><p>Gawronski is busy organizing a fund-raiser for the Murray family and says, “We've gotten such an outpouring of love and support from so many people. Petaluma Valley Athletic Club, Club One, and Dairydell Canine Training have offered to hold an event at their venues. And I just e-mailed Sally Tomatoes (a Rohnert Park catering event center) to see if we can do something there in February.”</p><p>Debbie Abrams, public affairs director at KZST-FM, a friend of Gawronski's and a member of the Fabulous Women, says the station is also raising money for Murray's 14-year-old son, Tian Tian Li, who goes by Corey. </p><p>Police reports suggest Dunaway was on her phone, either talking or texting, when the accident happened. Gawronski says she always drives with a BlueTooth device for hands-free talking, but admits to occasionally answering her cell phone in the car without thinking. </p><p>“We've got to stop this dependency on our phones while driving. I bought a visor clip and put Calli's photo in it as a reminder. My plan is when Kaitlyn is further along in her healing she might consider being a spokesperson for a ‘hands-free' campaign and talk to school kids around the region.”</p><p>Gawronski says Oprah Winfrey's “No Phone Zone” campaign was the inspiration for the plan. Additionally, Gawronski credits Winfrey's philanthropic call to action for inspiring the formulation of the Fabulous Women's group. </p><p>“I've been told by my babysitter who went to school with Kaitlyn that she is a fantastic kid,” says Gawronski. “This accident is going to haunt her for the rest of her life.”</p><p>Dunaway's personal statistics on SSU's online team roster says she “decided on Sonoma State because it enabled her to stay close to her home and family.”</p><p>Dunaway “would like to be a police officer after graduation,” it went on to say.</p><p>(Contact Bob Canning at argus@arguscourier.com)</p><p>When 2-year-old Calli Murray recently was struck and killed and her mother Ling Murray severely injured by distracted driver Kaitlyn Dunaway in a Rohnert Park crosswalk, the repercussions were acutely felt throughout Sonoma County, and particularly in Petaluma. As it turns out, Murray and Dunaway, who are both Rohnert Park residents, have similar Petaluma ties.</p><p>Murray, 40, has been an avid outside hitter in her volleyball league that played every Wednesday in a city of Petaluma Parks and Recreation league.</p><p>Eighteen-year-old Dunaway lived in Petaluma for several years and recently graduated from Petaluma High School. She was named All-Empire Volleyball Player of the Year and is currently enrolled as a freshman at Sonoma State University, where she plays on the team as a defensive specialist.</p><p>Petaluman Krista Gawronski, co-owner of Mr. Pickles sandwich shop, met Murray three years ago at a game, and says, “I find this volleyball connection that Ling and Kaitlyn shared so sad and ironic. As a mom myself, this tragedy really hit me. I spoke to Ling's husband, Jeff, the night before they put her into a medically induced coma. I let him know we were there for them.”</p><p>In 2006, Gawronski formed a grassroots fund-raising group called Fabulous Women. Two years ago, with the help of its 65 members, Gawronski raised $6,000 toward a former employee's surgery to remove a brain tumor. </p><p>Earlier this year, the group, now numbering about 300, raised $9,000 for Danny Cox, the Petaluma High School student who suffered severe paralysis in a swimming accident. </p><p>Gawronski is busy organizing a fund-raiser for the Murray family and says, “We've gotten such an outpouring of love and support from so many people. Petaluma Valley Athletic Club, Club One, and Dairydell Canine Training have offered to hold an event at their venues. And I just e-mailed Sally Tomatoes (a Rohnert Park catering event center) to see if we can do something there in February.”</p><p>Debbie Abrams, public affairs director at KZST-FM, a friend of Gawronski's and a member of the Fabulous Women, says the station is also raising money for Murray's 14-year-old son, Tian Tian Li, who goes by Corey. </p><p>Police reports suggest Dunaway was on her phone, either talking or texting, when the accident happened. Gawronski says she always drives with a BlueTooth device for hands-free talking, but admits to occasionally answering her cell phone in the car without thinking. </p><p>“We've got to stop this dependency on our phones while driving. I bought a visor clip and put Calli's photo in it as a reminder. My plan is when Kaitlyn is further along in her healing she might consider being a spokesperson for a ‘hands-free' campaign and talk to school kids around the region.”</p><p>Gawronski says Oprah Winfrey's “No Phone Zone” campaign was the inspiration for the plan. Additionally, Gawronski credits Winfrey's philanthropic call to action for inspiring the formulation of the Fabulous Women's group. </p><p>“I've been told by my babysitter who went to school with Kaitlyn that she is a fantastic kid,” says Gawronski. “This accident is going to haunt her for the rest of her life.”</p><p>Dunaway's personal statistics on SSU's online team roster says she “decided on Sonoma State because it enabled her to stay close to her home and family.”</p><p>Dunaway “would like to be a police officer after graduation,” it went on to say.</p><p>(Contact Bob Canning at argus@arguscourier.com)</p><p>When 2-year-old Calli Murray recently was struck and killed and her mother Ling Murray severely injured by distracted driver Kaitlyn Dunaway in a Rohnert Park crosswalk, the repercussions were acutely felt throughout Sonoma County, and particularly in Petaluma. As it turns out, Murray and Dunaway, who are both Rohnert Park residents, have similar Petaluma ties.</p><p>Murray, 40, has been an avid outside hitter in her volleyball league that played every Wednesday in a city of Petaluma Parks and Recreation league.</p><p>Eighteen-year-old Dunaway lived in Petaluma for several years and recently graduated from Petaluma High School. She was named All-Empire Volleyball Player of the Year and is currently enrolled as a freshman at Sonoma State University, where she plays on the team as a defensive specialist.</p><p>Petaluman Krista Gawronski, co-owner of Mr. Pickles sandwich shop, met Murray three years ago at a game, and says, “I find this volleyball connection that Ling and Kaitlyn shared so sad and ironic. As a mom myself, this tragedy really hit me. I spoke to Ling's husband, Jeff, the night before they put her into a medically induced coma. I let him know we were there for them.”</p><p>In 2006, Gawronski formed a grassroots fund-raising group called Fabulous Women. Two years ago, with the help of its 65 members, Gawronski raised $6,000 toward a former employee's surgery to remove a brain tumor. </p><p>Earlier this year, the group, now numbering about 300, raised $9,000 for Danny Cox, the Petaluma High School student who suffered severe paralysis in a swimming accident. </p><p>Gawronski is busy organizing a fund-raiser for the Murray family and says, “We've gotten such an outpouring of love and support from so many people. Petaluma Valley Athletic Club, Club One, and Dairydell Canine Training have offered to hold an event at their venues. And I just e-mailed Sally Tomatoes (a Rohnert Park catering event center) to see if we can do something there in February.”</p><p>Debbie Abrams, public affairs director at KZST-FM, a friend of Gawronski's and a member of the Fabulous Women, says the station is also raising money for Murray's 14-year-old son, Tian Tian Li, who goes by Corey. </p><p>Police reports suggest Dunaway was on her phone, either talking or texting, when the accident happened. Gawronski says she always drives with a BlueTooth device for hands-free talking, but admits to occasionally answering her cell phone in the car without thinking. </p><p>“We've got to stop this dependency on our phones while driving. I bought a visor clip and put Calli's photo in it as a reminder. My plan is when Kaitlyn is further along in her healing she might consider being a spokesperson for a ‘hands-free' campaign and talk to school kids around the region.”</p><p>Gawronski says Oprah Winfrey's “No Phone Zone” campaign was the inspiration for the plan. Additionally, Gawronski credits Winfrey's philanthropic call to action for inspiring the formulation of the Fabulous Women's group. </p><p>“I've been told by my babysitter who went to school with Kaitlyn that she is a fantastic kid,” says Gawronski. “This accident is going to haunt her for the rest of her life.”</p><p>Dunaway's personal statistics on SSU's online team roster says she “decided on Sonoma State because it enabled her to stay close to her home and family.”</p><p>Dunaway “would like to be a police officer after graduation,” it went on to say.</p><p>(Contact Bob Canning at argus@arguscourier.com)</p>