Emily Rose Shane hit on PCH | Ewing & Associates

“Emily Rose Shane”

Emily Rose Shane

August 9,1996 – April 3,2010
Pay it Forward

By: Gracee Arthur

This past month was a particularly deadly month on the Pacific Coast Highway culminating in the death of 13 year old Malibu Resident Emily Rose Shane. Emily was one of two people killed in separate accidents over Easter weekend by reckless drivers in West Malibu. A third life was claimed just 2 weeks earlier near Paradise Cove.

Amelia Ordona, crossing the road in the early AM of March 18th to catch her bus on the way home from her job as a caretaker, struck by a hit and run driver, then run over by multiple other cars. Her sister was injured in that accident. James Stellar of Santa Monica negotiating a left turn in broad daylight on to Broad Beach Road when he was broadsided by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel. Then Emily Shane, run down by an erratic driver while she was walking along the side of the road to the cross walk making her way to Point Dume Village shopping center to meet a family member.

All this unnecessary, horrific loss of life on this dangerous road brought me to tears with a special sense of loss over the one victim I had met when she was just 4 years old, Emily Rose Shane.

Four Hundred mourners turned out for the memorial service on April 7th at the Malibu West Swim Club people sitting on the floor, spilling out onto the deck, friends, family, classmates, people from the Malibu community all paid tribute to this lovely young women whose life was suddenly cut short. I send my deepest condolences to her parents Ellen and Michael and her two older sisters Gerri and Leigh for this incalculable, unexpected loss in their lives of their darling baby girl and sister.

It is a testimony to their love that Michael Shane challenged “every single person in this room to do one good thing in Emily’s name.” He then requested that when the deed is done you think of Emily. A web site has been created in the name of Emily Rose Shane where you may post your good deed (www.emilyshane.org).

There is one thing that the City of Malibu and Los Angles County can do to honor the memory of Emily, James and Amelia and that is to improve and increase the law enforcement on the Pacific Coast Highway. The years have brought countless deaths and needless accidents on this highway which is rated one of the most dangerous in the country. Bring back the Highway Patrol and find a way for the Sheriff’s Department and the Patrol to work in concert to make this Highway one of the safest in the country. There is no price too high, no political squabble so great that it should get in the way of saving precious lives.

In memory of Emily Rose Shane “Pay it Forward” and make yourself feel good.

For more information on the City Council Meeting addressing public safety on the highway.