Posting from Jeff, Superintendent @ HH
Hello,
I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for sharing their love and experiences in this forum. The staff and volunteers at Hollister Hills have been significantly impacted by Mahito’s death and a lot of us have been glued to this thread hoping to get just “one more picture” or just “one more story”. Thank you for sharing in such an open and honest way and helping us to find some hope in working through this tragedy.
I know there are many questions around our recent loss of Mahito. I am also writing in an effort to at least answer some of those questions about the event itself. It is a little unconventional that we would share these details but I believe everyone on this forum deserves to have as much information as we can provide at this time. We are still investigating the accident and it may be a number of weeks before the completed report is available to the public. Because this is very preliminary it will be light on details. Here is what we know to be the facts:
•Mahito exited the main road onto Harmony Gate (more or less westbound) and collided with a tree less than 300 feet after he exited. The tree was on the left hand side and he some how ended up in Lodge Lake.
•Mahito was conscious, alert (we call it “times 4”) and breathing when the first two good Samaritans arrived to help him.
•Mahito told the people helping him that he believed his accelerator had gotten stuck. He had also been recently working on the clutch according to friends.
•As part of the investigation we will have a certified mechanic examine the bike.
•Mahito was in the water and then extricated by friends, volunteers, rangers, lifeguards and strangers.
•Mahito was pronounced dead at Hazel Hawkins hospital but I believe his spirit stayed here at Hollister Hills.
This is a tragic loss, and like many of you, words escape me. Mahito was a kind soul and he had a huge heart, we may never know the limits of how he affected people or changed their lives forever. Allowing all of us to read the stories, see the pictures, and feel his warmth has been a great help to me personally and to all of the staff here at the park. I only wish that some of the people that try to close down places like Hollister Hills could have known Mahito or would at least read this thread… I know he would have planted a seed with all of them that eventually would grow into understanding and belief in what we love.
Jeff Gaffney
District Superintendent
Hollister Hills
(831)637-8186
jgaffney@parks.ca.gov
Manifest plainness, Embrace simplicity, Reduce selfishness, Have few desires.
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