The Clovis Unified School District community is mourning following the death of beloved Fort Washington Elementary School vice principal Gavin Gladding in a hit-and-run accident on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 16.
“The hearts and thoughts of the entire Clovis Unified educational team is with the Gladding family, and the Fort Washington team has already reached out to offer assistance and support as they grieve this unexpected loss,” CUSD said in a statement.
Gladding was jogging on the north shoulder of westbound Friant Road around 6 a.m. when a dark-colored pickup truck swerved off the roadway and struck him, according to the California Highway Patrol. He was rushed to Community Regional Medical Center with major life threatening injuries, and died at the hospital.
On Sept. 21, CHP officers arrested 18-year-old Rogelio Alvarez and towed away his Chevrolet pickup truck. He was booked into the Fresno County Jail on three charges with bail set at $6,100. He later posted the bond and was released from custody. No further details on the suspect are available at this time.
Gladding joined Clovis Unified in 2005, and taught science at Alta Sierra Intermediate and Clovis West High School before joining Fort Washington Elementary as the school’s second-in-command in 2015.
“Mr. Gladding was an amazing educator and a caring mentor to our students at the Fort,” said principal Melanie Hashimoto. “Our team is in shock, but we are pulling together to support each other and our students as we mourn this great loss.”
Psychologists were available to Fort Washington Elementary students and staff throughout the school week following the tragedy.