Parents fatally struck outside Gilroy school ID'd; community holds vigil, demands safer intersection

Tragedy Strikes Gilroy Community: Beloved Couple Killed in School Drop-Off Accident

A devastating incident has shaken the quiet town of Gilroy, California, as a teen driver struck and killed two parents, Andrew and Stacia Stuart, while they were walking their 7-year-old twins to school. The tragedy occurred on January 16 near Las Animas Elementary School during the chaotic drop-off hours.

The couple's daughter is still reeling from the loss of her beloved parents, leaving behind a young boy who must now navigate life without his cherished guardians. As the community mourns, residents are calling for improved safety measures at the intersection where the accident took place. A relative of the Stuarts has started a Change.org petition to install flashing crosswalk lights, which has garnered over 3,000 signatures.

Gilroy Mayor Greg Bozzo acknowledged the severity of the incident and expressed empathy towards those not directly affected by it. "I think that's why it's hitting so hard, is that people who are not directly affected by this, it really hurts," he said during an interview. The mayor emphasized that his administration will collaborate with the school district to reinforce safety protocols on campuses and work towards creating a safer environment for the community.

A joint meeting between city leaders and parents has been scheduled for February 4, where they will discuss ways to improve safety around schools. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family of the young twins and their loved ones during this difficult time.

As the community comes together to pay tribute to the Stuarts, a local theatre community has paid a heartfelt tribute to Stacia Stuart, who was known for her kindness, talent, and vibrant energy. A cousin of Andrew Stuart described the couple as wonderful people whose lives were filled with love and joy. The outpouring of grief from the community is a testament to the impact that this tragic incident will have on Gilroy.

The investigation into the accident is ongoing, but one thing is clear: the Stuarts' deaths serve as a wake-up call for the importance of prioritizing road safety, particularly around schools and drop-off zones. As the town of Gilroy mourns, it is also rallying together to create a safer future for its residents.
 
ugh, another school drop-off accident πŸ™„. like, can't these drivers even pay attention? the fact that they're already getting 3000 signatures on a petition for flashing crosswalk lights says something about how lax the roads are in this town πŸ˜’. i'm sure it's just an honest mistake, but still... another family torn apart by someone else's negligence πŸ€•. at least the gofundme page is set up to help out the twins, so that's a small silver lining πŸ’Έ.
 
I'm still trying to process this πŸ˜”... I keep thinking about my own kids going off to school and how vulnerable they are on those chaotic mornings. We need better infrastructure, more awareness, and better enforcement of the speed limits around schools πŸš—πŸ’¨. It's heartbreaking that the Stuarts had to lose their lives like this. Their twins are now dealing with a void that can't be filled πŸ€•. I'm all for those flashing crosswalk lights – it's about time we put our kids first and made our roads safer 😊.
 
man this is so sad πŸ˜”, can't believe what happened to that couple, totally senseless... need some serious changes at those intersection areas, like them flashing crosswalk lights, it's not too much to ask πŸ’‘. feels bad for the kids, they're gonna grow up without their parents, and the community is coming together which is awesome πŸ‘, but still can't shake off this feeling of sadness πŸ˜”
 
man this is so sad... my heart goes out to those young twins πŸ˜”. their parents were amazing people, I mean who dies like that? 🀯 especially during school drop off time, it's just crazy. i'm all for them wanting to install flashing crosswalk lights at the intersection, that's a great idea 🚦. and it's awesome that the mayor is taking this seriously and working with the school district to make schools safer again πŸ’‘. we need more of these kinds of community come together events to show support for each other during tough times πŸ‘«. the outpouring of grief is just beautiful, it's clear that Andrew and Stacia were loved by everyone in Gilroy ❀️.
 
this tragedy hits so close to home it's like they were a part of our own community already you know how many parents have been thinking about this exact same situation and worrying about their kids every single day πŸ€• and now two beautiful people are gone just like that no more warning signs or anything just a split second of carelessness and it's all over the intersection where these kids go to school is like a petri dish for accidents so yeah let's get those flashing crosswalk lights up already 🚦
 
Ugh this is like something outta a movie where the whole town is devastated πŸ€• just thinking about it gives me chills. the fact that they were walking their kids to school and it was during drop-off hours already puts you on edge, you know? πŸš—πŸ’¨ anyway, hopefully that petition for flashing crosswalk lights takes off and something gets done to prevent this from happening again... it's just so senseless πŸ˜”.
 
πŸ€• This is so sad... I just can't imagine losing my parents like that. It's crazy how something as simple as walking with your kids to school can turn into a tragedy. πŸ’” I think the city is making the right move by looking at safety measures and improving protocols around schools, but it's also heartbreaking that they had to go through this in the first place... 😒 Their twins are going to grow up without their amazing parents, which is just devastating. πŸ€•
 
man this is so sad :( the parents were just trying to get their kids to school and now they're gone πŸ€• it's like, what can we do to prevent these kinds of accidents from happening in the future? πŸ€” i feel for the twins, they must be traumatized losing both their parents at once 😭 it's not just about the Stuarts' family that needs support, but also the whole community that's grieving with them πŸ’• my aunt lost her sibling a few years ago and i know how hard it is to cope with loss πŸ€— what do you think we can do as a community to make schools safer? 🚨 maybe some cameras or pedestrian lights at those busy drop-off spots? πŸ“Έ something has got to be done, these accidents are just too senseless πŸ’”
 
🌧️ This senseless tragedy makes me think about how quickly our lives can change in an instant... one minute you're walking your kids to school, the next, you're saying goodbye to two beloved souls. It's heartbreaking to see the ripple effect it has on the family and the community πŸ€•. We need to take a closer look at the infrastructure around schools - are there other measures we can put in place to prevent such accidents? The flashing crosswalk lights petition is a good start, but I think we should explore more innovative solutions... after all, safety shouldn't be just about the practical πŸ’‘. As the community comes together, it's also making me reflect on our collective priorities - do we truly value road safety above other concerns? πŸ€”πŸ’¨
 
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