Father killed, mother seriously injured after being hit by teen driver in Gilroy, police say

GILROY, Calif. (KGO) -- A growing number of flowers and candles by the crosswalk where two parents were hit, one of them killed. It happened Friday morning near Las Animas Elementary in Gilroy during school drop-off. Police say the driver is a teenager.

The Superintendent of the Gilroy Unified School District said the father died at the scene, and the mother was flown to a hospital. They have at least two children.

Gilroy police say the teen driver was cooperative with their investigation. They said they do not believe drugs, alcohol or speed were factors in this collision.

First responders radioed what they were being told at the scene.

"The vehicle involved was a full size lifted Chevy truck, speeds were minimal, it was accelerating away from the stop sign, and made contact with the two pedestrians. So I would say probably 10-15 miles per hour."

On Friday evening, families took the time to drop off flowers or light candles by the scene. One mother we spoke to works at the Morgan Hill School District, she said she's been emotional all day.

Jonathan Ruiz doesn't know the family but lives two blocks away.

"It's a very sad thing you know for the community, it hits close to home my kids went to the same elementary school that the parents dropped their kids off," Ruiz said.

He describes the neighborhood as close and family oriented.

"It's unfortunate, it shows you how precious life is and you know in a second, just like that it's gone," Ruiz said.

Mayor Greg Bozo said in part "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected."

The Gilroy Unified School District is providing on-site counseling services to students, families, and staff at affected schools.

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