Supporters Gather in Honor of Savela at Hearing
Mar 18, 2026 11:41PM ● By Jeanne Fratello
Friends and community members of Ford Savela, the Manhattan Beach teen killed in a hit-and-run accident last year, gathered outside the Torrance courthouse during a pretrial conference for the driver charged in the accident.
The driver, Kameron Lee Peterson, remains in jail, facing three felony charges: murder, hit-and-run causing death or serious injuries, and reckless
driving.
The small crowd gathered outside the courthouse on Tuesday morning included Manhattan Beach Mayor David Lesser and Councilwoman Nina Tarnay. Supporters, wearing "Ford" shirts and hats, said that they came to court that day to honor Savela's memory and to call for more traffic calming measures on the southernmost strip of Sepulveda Blvd.
GIven that CalTrans has direct jurisdiction over Sepulveda, the city of Manhattan Beach may be limited in what it can change along that roadway, but Manhattan Beach Mayor David Lesser said that the city is exploring with CalTrans what measures can be taken. CalTrans is said to be considering high visibility crosswalks, yield signs, speed limit markings on the pavement, or bike lanes.
That stretch of Sepulveda has been an ongoing concern, especially in the wake of three separate fatal accidents on Sepulveda in Manhattan Beach. That includes the death of Braun Levi in the 100 block of South Sepulveda in May 2025, the death of Savela in the 300 block of North Sepulveda in January 2025, and the death of pedestrian Michael Kawasaki in the 900 block of North Sepulveda in December 2024.
Savela Remembered for Kindness
A memorial of flowers and notes for Savela has remained for more than a year on the grassy stretch in front
of the Taco Bell at 3rd and Sepulveda where he was killed.
In January 2026, family members and friends gathered at the memorial on
the one-year anniversary of Savela's death. A
crowd of about 250 held candles and laid more flowers and mementos at the makeshift memorial
that has been in place for the past year.
Savela, a beloved son, brother, and friend, was an active member of the Beach Cities Health District’s Youth Advisory
Council, a youth-led group focused on promoting the health and
well-being of their peers. At a celebration of his life last January, he was remembered as a cherished member of the community who was "a force for good" who "lived with purpose."
The Ford W. Savela Legacy of Kindness Scholarship was
created in his honor to support students "who embody his core values of
kindness, empathy, high character, and community involvement."
