Ankeny Police to Re-Enact Fatal Accident to Determine Cause

Police are still piecing together what exactly happened in an accident that killed a 78-year-old Ankeny school crossing guard.

Ankeny Police Chief Gary Mikulec said Friday it likely will be several more days before authorities know exactly what happened Thursday morning in the moments leading up to the accident. Police said  driven by Laurin J. Cole, 63, of Ankeny. Luttrell later died from his injuries.

"There’s nothing new to report as far as the accident goes,” Mikulec said. “We’re simply trying to figure out all those elements of what (Cole) saw and what he didn’t see.”

Luttrell was working his usual post at the corner of West First and School streets Thursday when he was struck by Cole’s vehicle. Luttrell was lying in the road with severe head injuries when Ankeny paramedics arrived. He died that afternoon at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.

Witnesses at the scene reported Cole’s truck heading eastbound on West First Street when he drove through a red light, striking Luttrell as he stepped off the curb and into the street.

Luttrell was wearing a reflective vest and holding a stop sign above his head when he was hit, police said. Cole told officers he did not see Luttrell or the red light because the sun was in his eyes, Mikulec said.

Cole lived a few blocks from the accident site and traveled the route frequently, Mikulec said.

“What we’re trying to figure out is why the (red) light wasn’t seen,” Mikulec said.

Police plan to reconstruct the accident at the exact time it occurred. It was going to be done Friday, Mikulec said, but cloudy skies hampered the department’s efforts.

In a press release issued by the city of Ankeny following Luttrell’s death, Mikulec referred to him as a “hero.” Although no kids were in the path of the truck, Luttrell saved their lives simply by doing what he was trained to do.

“The kids had a green light and a walk signal, but the kids never stepped into the street because (Frank) didn’t declare it safe to cross,” Mikulec said. “If Frank wasn’t there doing his job, eight children would have walked into the street — and, presumably, all eight would have been hit by the truck.”

Crossing guards are hired and trained by the Ankeny Police Department. Their wages — typically $12 per shift — are paid by both the city and the Ankeny school district.

Mikulec said it isn’t likely crossing guard training will change following this accident.

“This accident had no bearing on the training of these crossing guards,” Mikulec said. “We work through their training with them all the time, but in an environment like this there are always risks.”

As of Friday, there are no public memorial services planned for Luttrell, although Mikulec said the city is not ruling out the possibility.

“Right now, we’re going with the pace of the family,” Mikulec said. “Once we find out their wishes, we’ll see…but yes, it is in our minds.”

From KCCI-TV:

Luttrell's funeral has been set for Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Church, 510 E. First St. in Ankeny. 

Dean Luttrell, Frank's son, told KCCI his father was a Marine and former police officer in Dallas, Texas. 

"He saved those kids," Luttrell told the TV station. "He put himself between that truck and those kids." 

The Luttrell family struggles to understand why the driver, 63-year-old Laurin Cole, didn't slow down if he couldn't see, said the KCCI story.

"Millions of people drive east every day with the sun in their face, it's no excuse for what happened," Luttrell said.

Cole told KCCI the sun made it hard to see and he thought he had a green light.

The Luttrell family hopes the tragic crash will be a reminder for all drivers to take it slow, especially in school zones. 

"If anything good come out of this, just the awareness of what you're doing when you're driving down the street. Pay attention, pay attention to your crossing guard," Luttrell said to KCCI.