Tragedy Strikes Gilroy Community: Beloved Couple's Fatal Accident Sparks Outpouring of Grief and Calls for Safer Intersections
The small town of Gilroy, California is reeling from the devastating news of the fatal accident involving a teenage driver that claimed the lives of Andrew and Stacia Stuart, parents of 7-year-old twins. The couple was struck while crossing the street near their daughter's elementary school during school drop-off on January 16.
As the community mourns the loss of this loving family, many are expressing outrage and frustration over the inadequate safety measures in place at the intersection. A relative of the Stuarts has launched a petition on Change.org, calling for the installation of flashing crosswalk lights, which has garnered over 3,000 signatures so far.
Gilroy Mayor Greg Bozzo acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating that even those not directly affected by the tragedy are hurting. He promised to work with the city and school district to reinforce safety protocols on campuses and share feedback that supports improved safety throughout the community.
A joint meeting between city leaders and the Superintendent of the Gilroy Unified School District is scheduled for February 4 to discuss the incident and potential solutions.
The Stuarts were described as wonderful people, with Stacia leaving a lasting impact on the local theatre community. A cousin of Andrew said that many family members plan to attend the memorial service on Saturday, which is expected to be a large gathering.
In response to their loss, a GoFundMe has been set up to support the care and well-being of their 7-year-old twins during this difficult time.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing road safety, particularly in areas with high foot traffic. As the community comes together to support one another, it is clear that the Stuarts' tragic accident will have a lasting impact on the residents of Gilroy for years to come.
The small town of Gilroy, California is reeling from the devastating news of the fatal accident involving a teenage driver that claimed the lives of Andrew and Stacia Stuart, parents of 7-year-old twins. The couple was struck while crossing the street near their daughter's elementary school during school drop-off on January 16.
As the community mourns the loss of this loving family, many are expressing outrage and frustration over the inadequate safety measures in place at the intersection. A relative of the Stuarts has launched a petition on Change.org, calling for the installation of flashing crosswalk lights, which has garnered over 3,000 signatures so far.
Gilroy Mayor Greg Bozzo acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating that even those not directly affected by the tragedy are hurting. He promised to work with the city and school district to reinforce safety protocols on campuses and share feedback that supports improved safety throughout the community.
A joint meeting between city leaders and the Superintendent of the Gilroy Unified School District is scheduled for February 4 to discuss the incident and potential solutions.
The Stuarts were described as wonderful people, with Stacia leaving a lasting impact on the local theatre community. A cousin of Andrew said that many family members plan to attend the memorial service on Saturday, which is expected to be a large gathering.
In response to their loss, a GoFundMe has been set up to support the care and well-being of their 7-year-old twins during this difficult time.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing road safety, particularly in areas with high foot traffic. As the community comes together to support one another, it is clear that the Stuarts' tragic accident will have a lasting impact on the residents of Gilroy for years to come.
It's just crazy how some streets aren't even safe for little kids to walk across. The fact that they were just crossing the street near their daughter's school drop-off makes it even more sense to do something about it 
I'm sure the Stuarts would want people to be able to cross those streets safely without losing their lives 
. They're already getting 3000 signatures on that petition, but I bet it'll get lost in the shuffle. The city's just gonna sweep it under the rug and say they did something about it, but we all know how that goes 
. And now they're having a big meeting to "discuss" solutions... meanwhile, people like me are just over here dealing with the constant stress of road safety. Can't they just make those stupid crosswalk lights already?! 
. It's just not right that a family like that gets taken away in an instant. The idea of having flashing crosswalk lights at school drop-off areas is actually super reasonable, it would have made all the difference to them 
. I hope they get some answers and changes soon so no other family has to go through this 
it's a beautiful thing.
those poor kids are going through so much already... and the community is coming together in such an amazing way 
it's just not right that people have to suffer like this because of inadequate safety measures 
like, come on city leaders, what took you so long?! 
and make sure our kids are safe while they're walking to school 
we need to do better than this, Gilroy 
️ like those flashing crosswalk lights are a no-brainer 
why shouldn't our streets have the same level of visibility as highways? 
and of course, the outpouring of love & support for the twins is just beautiful 
Safer intersections r 4 real! 
... how did this family just happen to be walking their kids across the street when it was supposed to be safe? didn't anyone notice anything odd? and what's up with the petition for flashing crosswalk lights that can only make things worse, isn't that like a Band-Aid solution at best?
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and it's crazy that it had to happen in a place like Gilroy, where you'd think safety would be a priority. A petition with over 3k signatures is already making a difference, but we gotta keep pushing for better infrastructure, esp at schools 
I'm totally donating to that GoFundMe, we gotta take care of those kids 
IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT AND I KNOW THAT CHANGE NEEDS TO BE MADE ASAP 
I'm literally in tears thinking about how their lives were cut short 
we need to make sure that no other parent has to go through the same pain 
the fact that even people who didnt know them are hurting shows how much of an impact this family had on their community 
The fact that they were crossing the street near school and still managed to get hit is just crazy. And those flashing crosswalk lights? That sounds like a no-brainer to me