VENTURA : City Worker Hit by Car on the Job Dies

A Ventura city worker struck by a car last week died Friday of head injuries, authorities said.

Ruben Ramirez, 57, of Oxnard was hit by a car as he was retrieving orange traffic cones on Victoria Avenue just north of Olivas Park Drive last Friday.

California Highway Patrol officials said the investigation into the incident is continuing and no charges have been brought against 28-year-old Patrick J. Biando of Ventura, who hit Ramirez as he drove to work in Oxnard, authorities said last week.

Biando was changing lanes and apparently did not see Ramirez until it was too late, the CHP said.

Nazir Lalani, Ramirez’s boss, said Ramirez had received safety training and was wearing an orange traffic vest.

Ventura city officials with whom Ramirez worked while in the engineering division of the Community Services Department expressed sorrow Friday.

“It was a tragic accident . . . that took his life,” said Carol Green, assistant to the city manager of Ventura. “We haven’t experienced anything like this before. It’s a very distressing event.”