Three years ago, in the summer of 2009, 5-year-old Isabela “Bela” Estes was lucky to survive after being hit by a car while playing near the street in front of her Arvada house. Today, Bela is the inspiration behind a grassroots public awareness campaign, called "Brake for Bela," to alert drivers, parents and children of the increased risk of vehicle/pedestrian accidents during the summer months, while children are out of school.
To raise awareness of the campaign, proclamations in support of Brake for Bela are being passed by city councils throughout metro Denver, including Arvada, Brighton, Centennial, Commerce City, Denver, Lakewood and Wheat Ridge.