Alexander “Alex” Mackiewicz’s mom spoke for the first time publicly in detail about her son’s sudden death earlier this month. Though she describes herself as a “very private person,” she said people needed to know about the 13-year-old Highlands Ranch boy whose life was cut short and expressed hopes that changes will happen to make roads safer and laws stricter so that others will be spared from a tragedy like the one her family is experiencing.
“If I remain private, his death, his loud scream of death, will not be heard and something has to happen,” Alex’s mother, Victoria Cegielski, said in a press conference at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday.
Alex, whose funeral was on Tuesday, was just a kid, Cegielski said. His love for his family was beyond measure. Just as he loved a hug from his mom, she loved to kiss his “perfect little nose.”
In a car two days before his death, Cegielski watched as the sun shone on her son’s face, illuminating his freckles. The last time she saw her son was when he said he was heading off to school, on March 6.
That morning, Cegielski received a notification that her son was recorded absent from school around 8 a.m.
Cegielski looked at the location of his phone and it showed up at the Venneford Ranch Road and Highlands Ranch Parkway intersection. She immediately went there and, as she arrived, saw the flashing lights of police and fire vehicles. Her walk to the intersection turned into a run and Cegielski found a deputy and asked if they were there for a boy on a “onewheel” scooter. The deputy’s face dropped.
“Everything else is in a blur,” said Cegielski. “I don’t know what was happening.”
Traffic investigators with the sheriff’s office alleged about a week later that the driver, Ruben Morones, 52, was in the far-right lane of the three-lane parkway and had failed to stop at a red light, hitting Alex, who was crossing at the Venneford intersection with the walk signal activated. Investigators said he was thrown from his single-wheel electric board, landing against the curb line east of the intersection. Alex died at the scene.
A witness told Cegielski that Alex was smiling just before he began to cross the street.
“I sure hope he died with that smile on his face without knowing what happened to him,” said Cegielski. “I pray to the Lord that it was just a light turned off.”
A plea for change
The family wants to establish a permanent memorial at the intersection to remind both drivers and kids to be cautious and mindful that lives are at stake.
The family also wants to work with Douglas County to improve the “horrible” intersection and parkway where Cegielski has gone to stand every morning since her son’s death only to see cars apparently driving well in excess of the posted 45 mph speed limit.
Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly, who held back tears at times during the press conference, assured Cegielski and others that his office will work with the family to improve safety, including meeting with legislators to seek potential changes.
“We are not gonna let this be a headline for a day or two and then move on until the next child dies,” said Weekly. “We’re going to do what we can to make change now.”
There have been eight crashes at the Venneford-Highlands Ranch Parkway intersection in the past three years. However, none involved pedestrians or injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.
Colorado Department of Transportation data indicates that since March 6, 2020, there were 89 fatal crashes in the county and, in the past year, 19.
Morones faces charges that include “careless driving” that caused serious bodily injury to a vulnerable road user and death, and failure “to obey” a traffic control signal.
“Careless driving resulting in death carries a maximum of a $1,000 fine and one year in county jail,” said Weekly. “This family lost a son, they lost a brother and on top of all that the justice system is likely going to fail them as well.”
Cegielski wants to see tougher laws.
“Only us, all of us together, can do something,” said Cegielski. “Our message has to be heard.”
Remembering Alex
Members of Alex’s family don’t want him to be forgotten. They spoke about his love for family and baseball, and his generosity.
His mom told the story of how he emptied his lunch account at school, buying lunches and snacks for others and if someone liked his sweatshirt, he would give it to them.
“Half of his clothes are in his classmates’ closets,” said Cegielski .
Alex’s stepdad, Owen Cegielski, recalled how he once saw Alex hit three homeruns in one game. Alex would run across home plate with his arms spread out like wings, inspiring everyone to “Fly High For Alex.”
Robert Mackiewicz, Alex’s father, cherishes snowboarding and drinking banana shakes with his son.
His older sister, Helena Bernal, will remember the time she came home from college and noticed that Alex had taken an interest in her career.
“As a sibling, especially our age, you don’t expect to be talking about your little brother in the past tense,” said Bernal.
There were not enough words to describe Alex on Thursday. He was a friend, happy, charismatic and caring. He was a good listener and goofy. He was talented and a sweetheart.
His family and the sheriff wanted to show people who Alex was so that they might think of the bright young, smiling star the next time they drive down Highlands Ranch Parkway.