VENTURA : Pedestrian Killed by Car Identified

A pedestrian who was struck and killed by a motorist in Ventura was identified Tuesday as a construction foreman who was moving traffic cones at the time of the accident, authorities said.

Jerry Hammersmith, 45, of Nyeland Acres appears to have been killed instantly when he was struck Monday by motorist Dana King, 65, of Ventura, the California Highway Patrol said.

The accident occurred about 5:15 p.m. at Olivas Park Drive west of Telephone Road where Hammersmith had been laying pipe with a crew from Turf Construction Inc. of Camarillo, CHP Officer Dave Webb said.

The five-member construction crew was preparing to go home, and Hammersmith was moving road pylons to direct traffic around the construction site when he was struck by King, who was traveling east.

King and a woman passenger in his car told officers in separate statements that King was traveling about 40 to 45 m.p.h.

CHP Officer Greg Draper said the accident is under investigation. “There’s really nothing to indicate any excessively high speed, no massive skid marks,” he said.

King and his passenger told officers that they saw Hammersmith seconds before their car struck him.

Hammersmith is survived by his wife and a 21-year-old stepchild, Taylor said. Funeral arrangements were pending.