2 Elderly Women Hit, Killed by Car While Crossing Street in Reseda : Tragedy: The Korean immigrants were heading toward an early morning English class. Driver was not arrested but could face misdemeanor charges.

Two elderly Korean women who wanted to become American citizens were struck and killed by a car early Thursday as they crossed a busy street on their way to English classes at a Reseda church.

Soon Nam Uom, 72, and Jung Kum Kong, 67--both enrolled in the language classes to fulfill their dream of becoming American citizens--were jaywalking across Sherman Way just west of Andasol Avenue at 7:10 a.m. when they were struck by an eastbound car.

Kong’s husband, Jae Ho Park, who was walking just ahead of the pair, said the women had almost reached the sidewalk when they were struck. Just as he reached the curb, Park said he heard a thud and turned to see his wife hit by the car.

The women’s bodies landed about 30 feet away, at the corner of Andasol and Sherman Way in front of the Saemoonan Presbyterian Church, police said.

For nearly four hours after the accident, officers cordoned off much of the mile-long stretch of Sherman Way between White Oak and Louise avenues as tearful family members arrived, identifying the sheet-covered bodies that lay in the street.

The driver of the car, Maria Martinez, 28, of Glendale, pulled over and called Los Angeles police, Detective Jodi Wakefield said. Firefighters and police rushed to the scene, but the two women were declared dead.

Martinez, who was described as very remorseful and who authorities said apparently was driving at the speed limit, was not arrested. But Wakefield said city prosecutors will determine whether to file misdemeanor charges in connection with the crash.

The fatal accident was the second involving pedestrians in the San Fernando Valley in five days. On Saturday, two sisters from Guatemala were killed as they jaywalked across a North Hollywood street.

The deaths of the two Korean immigrants marked a tragic end to their long struggle to find a place in their new homeland.

The women, who were both legal residents and who had lived in the United States for more than a decade, had begun studying English six weeks ago in an effort to become U.S. citizens and avoid losing federal benefits under pending legislation, family and friends said.

“All the immigrants from outside are very nervous,” said Soon Nam Uom’s son, Dae Y. Choi, 38. He added that his mother was having difficulty learning a new language at her age, but was determined.

Uom, who lived in Van Nuys, moved to the United States in 1981 with her eldest son, Augustine, and was followed shortly thereafter by Dae.

She and Kong met while attending the Valley Korean Catholic Church in Canoga Park three years ago, friends said. Both women were described as deeply religious and very active in the congregation, and both were members of the Legion of Mary.

“It’ll be a loss to us,” said Pastor Charles O’Rourke, who came to the scene to comfort family members and friends. “We’ll miss them very much.”

Kong had two sons, three daughters and six grandchildren. Relatives said she came to the United States in 1984 because she wanted her son to get an American education. “Her dream was that her children be happy,” Jin Kong said in Korean as he sat in his mother’s North Hills apartment Thursday afternoon.

“I’m really hurting,” Jin Kong said. “We struggled so much when we came to this country, and now for this to happen.”

Kong’s granddaughter, Esther Kong, 11, said her grandmother was afraid of crossing busy streets. “She said there were too many cars coming by,” Esther said Thursday. Uom and Kong had a routine on Thursdays, taking city buses to the Saemoonan Presbyterian Church, where they were enrolled in three-hour English classes.

On the morning of the accident, Kong and her husband stopped at a Sherman Way coffee shop, and then boarded a bus headed west toward the church. They met Uom on the bus, and got off near the corner of Andasol Avenue. The three walked across Sherman Way.

Park said he walked ahead because his wife and her friend were talking.

Times staff writers Abigail Goldman and John M. Glionna contributed to this story.