Authorities say that two people died in an accident on Highway 25 near the border between Santa Clara and San Benito counties. One was from Hollister and the other was from Gilroy.

Erick Javier Andrade, 24, of Gilroy, and Priscilla Paulina Jones, 35, of Hollister were both killed in the accident, according to the Santa Clara County Coroner and Medical Examiner’s Office.

The California Highway Patrol said that at 12:33 a.m. on October 28, they got a report of a crash on State Route 25 south of Bloomfield Avenue. Officers from the CHP Hollister-Gilroy office arrived and found two cars blocking the road. The drivers of both cars were not responding.

Police said that the first investigation showed Andrade was driving a 2018 Nissan Sentra south on Highway 25 just south of Bloomfield Avenue at an unknown speed. Jones was driving a 2012 Dodge Charger north on Highway 25 at a speed that was also unknown.

The Nissan went from going straight ahead to going to the left, crossing double yellow lines into the northbound lane, for no clear reason, the CHP said. This caused the front of the Nissan to crash into the front of the Dodge, killing both drivers, who were pronounced dead at the scene.

There were no other people in either vehicle. Police say that Highway 25 was closed in both directions for five hours while the scene was being looked into.

Police say they don’t know if drugs or alcohol played a part in the crash.

The emergency communications office for Santa Clara County said in a statement that Jones had worked as a 911 operator for more than seven years. Jones had worked as a communications training officer, a police and medical dispatcher, and a medical dispatcher.

Jones had three kids and owned Mmm Churros in Hollister with her husband, according to many news sources.

A county statement shared on social media on Oct. 29 says, “Priscilla took great pride in her work and being able to help those around her.” “We will always remember her soothing voice and how kind and professional she was with her callers.”

“She made the rest of us laugh when we had some free time.” Even though Priscilla was proud of her job as a dispatcher, she would say that being married and having three beautiful children was her proudest accomplishment.

“We are very sorry for her family and friends’ loss. Our thoughts are with them at this time.”

When Erica Morton, a resident of the area, heard about the deaths, she started an online petition asking officials to put safety measures in place right away on Highway 25, which has been the scene of many accidents over the years that have hurt and killed people. Police say that these accidents have happened on Highway 25 from the border with Santa Clara County all the way past Tres Pinos in San Benito County.

Morton put up the petition on change.org on October 29. It asks elected officials and transportation officials to put up barriers and/or k-rails along the road.

It says in part, “We need our leaders and (Caltrans) to listen to us now.” “A lot of accidents could have been avoided. It’s time for us to be heard.”

Highway 25 has been getting more and more crowded as San Benito County has grown quickly over the past few years. There have been long-term plans to make the highway bigger. There is no set date for when work on the highway expansion project could start.

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