Gilroy PD: Environmental, visual obstructions contributed to crash, couple's death

GILROY, Calif. (KGO) -- Just over a month after two parents were fatally hit by a car after dropping off their children at school, Gilroy police released new details from their investigation that they say contributed to the deadly crash.

On the morning of January 16, police say a lifted chevy truck was driving down Charles Lux Drive when he turned right on Lopez Way.

At that same time, Andrew and Stacia Stuart were walking across the street after dropping off their 7-year-old twins at nearby Las Animas School. They were hit and killed.

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"It's just devastating," Morgan Hill Resident Emma Havstad said. "I was a teacher for seven years. I can't imagine how it has just totally disrupted the whole community of the school as well. And as a parent, I just can't imagine you dropping your kids off at school and not ever being able to pick them back up."

Investigators say a teen driver was behind the wheel of the truck and failed to yield to the Stuarts.

Gilroy Police Sergeant Robert Basuino told us environmental and physical visual obstructions also contributed to the incident.

"Through the investigation, it was found that rising sun that morning played a factor," Sgt. Basuino said. "And there was a phone mount that was mounted in the center of the dash, some things hanging off the rearview mirror and the front windshield had a tint on it."

RELATED: Gilroy parents demand safety changes after couple killed in crash outside school

As the investigation continues, police say the city and the department are taking additional steps to ensure the safety of all families around the school going forward.

That includes increased police patrols during pick up and drop off for the school and an independent traffic study by the city to address safety concerns of residents and visitors - like safer crosswalks.

"Being able to have awareness that someone's crossing the street and being able to hit a light, or even if they have flags or something that would draw attention to that people crossing with so many kids around," Havstad said.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office and Juvenile Probation Department are reviewing the case to decide if charges are needed against the teen driver.

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