By DAILY PRESS STAFF
PCH A woman who exited her car after it broke down on Pacific Coast Highway was hit and killed by another car, police said Wednesday.
The accident, which caused motorists to take detours through Santa Monica, causing traffic congestion Downtown, occurred at 10:23 a.m. in the 1300 block of northbound Pacific Coast Highway, which is a couple of blocks north of the McClure Tunnel, said Sgt. Renaldi Thurston of the Santa Monica Police Department. Another car appeared to have been sideswiped, Renaldi said.
Los Angeles County lifeguards and para-medics from the Santa Monica Fire Department responded to the scene to render aid. Once on the scene, medical personnel determined that the female driver succumbed to her injuries and died at the scene.
The driver that hit the disabled vehicle was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. A third driver was not injured.
Neither the injured driver or the deceased woman were immediately identified.
At the time of the collision, the female driver was believed to have been standing in front of her vehicle waiting for assistance.
Investigators from the SMPD’s Major Accident Response Team responded and spoke to witnesses. Investigators learned that the victim was fatally injured after her disabled vehicle was struck from behind by an approaching vehicle.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is urged to call traffic investigator Chris Dawson at (310) 458-8954 or the watch commander at (310) 458-8427. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip hotline at (800) 78-CRIME (27463).
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 25, 2008. Read the original PDF.