Woman struck, killed by pickup truck on 105 Freeway on Christmas night

A woman standing outside her car on the eastbound 105 Freeway was struck and killed just before midnight Christmas night by a passing a pickup truck, which fled the scene, authorities said.

The 61-year-old South Gate woman was pronounced dead Thursday at the scene of the collision in Willowbrook, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Now a search is underway for the driver of the dark pickup truck that struck the woman.

The woman was standing outside her Mercury Cougar, which was stopped about 11:45 p.m. for unknown reasons on the freeway east of Wilmington Avenue.

That’s when the pickup truck hit the woman, who was flung into the traffic lanes.

The driver fled and east on the 105 Freeway.

CHP officials said the front of the pickup truck likely has moderate to major damage.

Anyone with information about the crash is urged to called the CHP South Los Angeles station at (310) 516-3355.

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