Charges Filed Against Driver In Fatal Napa Pedestrian Collision

NAPA, CA — One year after a Napa man was struck and killed by a car while walking at a local intersection, criminal charges have been brought against the driver, authorities with the Napa Police Department and the Napa County District Attorney's Office said this week. John Wilbur Stewart, 68, was fatally struck May 31, 2018 at the intersection of Soscol Avenue and Tanen Street.

Stewart was taken by ambulance to Queen of the Valley Medical Center, where he died from injuries suffered in the collision.

The driver, identified by police as Logan Ross, remained on scene, and the Napa Police Department's Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team was called out and took over the investigation.

The team is staffed by officers with specialized training and equipment to determine the cause of collisions, according to Napa police Traffic Sgt. Kristofer Jenny.

"After an extensive investigation, the department completed the report in January 2019," Sgt. Jenny said. "Logan Ross was found to be the cause of the collision by failing to stop for the stop sign at Tanen Street and failing to yield to the pedestrian in the unmarked crosswalk. These violations led to the death of John Stewart, who had lawfully walked to the intersection, waited for traffic to pass, then crossed in the unmarked crosswalk."

Surveillance video from a nearby business played a vital role in the case, the sergeant added.

Napa PD's findings in the collision were then forwarded to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office for review, and Ross, a 29-year-old Napa resident, was arraigned Monday in Napa Superior Court.

The DA's Office charged Ross with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and two traffic infractions, failure to stop at an intersection stop sign and failure to yield to a pedestrian who had the right of way, Assistant District Attorney Paul Gero confirmed Tuesday.

"The maximum punishment is one year in the county jail," Gero told Patch.

Ross is scheduled to appear in court again July 25 for a settlement conference, Gero said.

Stewart was a Napa native who attended Napa High School and married a classmate, according to his obituary published by the Napa Valley Register. He attended UC Davis, earning a degree in civil engineering. He was a longtime public servant who worked for the county of Napa as a civil engineer, as a manager with the city of Napa's water department and as a manager of the Napa Sanitation District.

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