LAGUNA BEACH : Pedestrian Crossing Highway Hit, Killed
A pedestrian trying to cross South Coast Highway near Victoria Drive was struck by a passing vehicle Wednesday night and died en route to a hospital, police said.
The victim, Jose Trinidad Verela Aguilar, 30, of Mexico, had darted through South Coast Highway’s two northbound lanes and was crossing the southbound lanes when he was struck by a car about 7:45 p.m., police said.
A physician who witnessed the accident performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Aguilar until paramedics arrived. He was then flown to South Coast Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
The driver of the vehicle, a 34-year-old man, was not detained, police Sgt. Greg Bartz said.
Blood samples from both the driver--who volunteered to take the test--and the victim will determine whether either had been drinking, Bartz said.
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