Turlock community remembers family members killed in weekend crash
A vigil held for elementary teacher killed in weekend crash
A vigil held for elementary teacher killed in weekend crash
A vigil held for elementary teacher killed in weekend crash
It was a somber evening in Turlock after a horrific crash took the lives of two parents and one of their children over the weekend.
A mother, father and their 16-year-old daughter were killed, along with the 22-year-old driver of another car, after a crash on Highway 165 near Greenway Avenue on Sunday morning.
Two teenagers of those parents are still in the hospital in critical condition.
Neighbors who witnessed the aftermath of the crash say they saw car parts scattered and lots of first responders.
A store owner on Greenway and Lander Avenue told KCRA that at least one major crash happens at this intersection every year.
Brian Tanner said he believes a traffic light needs to be installed at the intersection to prevent accidents.
"Almost an entire family has been taken out, it's been horrible, but the speeding down here on Highway 165 has been horrendous over the years," Tanner said.
Another neighbor, Jesse Acevedo was on his way to attend a mass when he witnessed the wreck.
"The devastation— just seems like the car pieces were everywhere, and it's just, they were just trying to get the jaws of life, I guess, opening in one car, wow," Acevedo said.
Officials said the family of six in the car were on their way to church.
The mother was identified as Jennifer Lourenco, a special education teacher at Sinclear Elementary School.
A vigil was held Monday in memory of Mrs. Lourenco.
"She was loving, empathetic and just dedicated to her students through and through and that is why you are seeing the support here today because she will be incredibly missed," said Dan Pangrazio, the deputy superintendent of Ceres Unified School District.
Dozens of students, families and staff brought purple balloons and flowers to the vigil.
They said purple was Lourenco's favorite color.
"This spot was where she would pick up the students and drop them off at the end of the day. So, that's the importance of this spot in particular," Pangrazio said.
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