A father's last Christmas gift
Callie Snyder, the daughter of a Kingvale man who was killed in a traffic accident in early December on his way to buy Christmas gifts, finally received her doll house.
On Saturday, Dec. 23, members of Caltrans in Kingvale and the California Highway Patrol from Truckee delivered a special gift with the help of Fisher-Price. Callie received the large doll house, the gift her father intended to buy for her this Christmas.
Ronald A. Snyder, a cook for Caltrans in Kingvale, was killed in a traffic accident along Highway 89 north on Dec. 1 when his vehicle drifted into oncoming traffic.
"Ron was on his way to purchase a doll house Our personnel learned of that and contacted Mattel Inc., directly," said Todd Kettwig, public affairs officer with the California Highway Patrol in Truckee.
Michelle Nincheski, consumer affairs manager with Mattel, tracked down the doll house, which was sold out in the greater California area. Nincheski found a doll house in Laredo, Texas and alerted the CHP in Truckee that the house would be available at a discounted price.
Cory White, CHP dispatch supervisor organized a donation at CHP and the Kingvale Caltrans Christmas party.
"Employees made contributions to cover the cost of the doll house. Contributions exceeded the price," Kettwig said.
The agencies purchased the doll house and contributed the surplus to a trust fund for Callie's education, a fund organized by her mother Janet L. Snyder.