Bay Area parents turn tragedy into national push for gate safety standards after son killed

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KGO) -- What began as a devastating personal loss has become a nationwide effort to protect children.

Dayna and Eric Quanbeck are leading a movement to strengthen safety standards for large sliding gates across the United States. It's advocacy born out of the death of their 7-year-old son, Alex.

Alex Quanbeck was killed in 2019 during recess at Mark Day School in San Rafael when a 400-pound sliding gate malfunctioned and fell on him.

"Grief is a journey sometimes. The loop is really long," said Dayna Quanbeck. "Doing this change helps."

In the years since, the Quanbecks have transformed their grief into action, founding the nonprofit Ready, Set, Safe! and working with industry leaders to address what they say was a critical lack of consistent safety standards.

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"We saw there was a real lack of uniform safety protocols," Dayna said. "We wanted to advocate for better safety where our kids learn and play."

Their efforts began locally, but quickly expanded nationwide. The couple partnered with organizations, including the International Code Council and the American Fence Association, to push for reforms in how large gates are installed and maintained.

The result: new safety standards that require sliding gates to include features, such as safety latches or catcher posts designed to prevent them from falling if they come off their tracks.

"It's not uncommon to see large gates get knocked off hinges," said Catherine Mills-Reynolds with the American Fence Association. "Instead of falling all the way to the ground, they can fall at a 45-degree angle -- and that's where these safeguards make a difference."

The updated guidelines were recently approved by the International Code Council, which develops widely adopted building safety codes.

In a statement, the organization said the Quanbecks' advocacy played a key role in advancing the changes, calling their work "a shining example" of collaboration, driving meaningful safety improvements. Industry experts say Alex's story helped highlight a danger that had often gone overlooked.

"Putting a face to it really woke us up to what was out there and what we could do to help in the future," Mills-Reynolds said.

Under the new rules, the safety measures will apply to new gate installations beginning in 2027. They also strengthen inspection and maintenance requirements for existing gates.

For the Quanbecks, the changes represent something deeply personal: a way to honor their son while preventing similar tragedies.

"He lived a huge life for seven years," Dayna said. "If we can save even one family from getting the call we did, that's a win."

Eric Quanbeck said the journey has required patience and perseverance, but also brought unexpected support.

"It's a sense of gratitude and honor to be doing this in memory of Alex," he said. "There are so many people who heard our story and wanted to help. It means a lot to our family."

Through their advocacy, Alex's legacy is now shaping safer spaces for children across the country, ensuring that one family's loss leads to change that could save lives.