Pedestrian Hit by Car Suffers Severe Injuries
A woman who was hit by a car while crossing Thompson Boulevard at Hemlock Street on Wednesday was in critical condition with severe injuries to her head, legs and arms, Ventura police said.
Linda Minear had just checked out of the Ventura Beach House Hotel at 1220 E. Thompson Blvd. and was crossing the busy street when a man driving a 1979 Ranchero swerved to avoid another motorist and struck her, Officer Ron Rojo said.
Darrell Jourdain, 34, of Ventura was eastbound on Thompson Boulevard when a truck driver at Hemlock Street suddenly cut in front of him in order to turn westbound on Thompson.
Trying to avoid the truck, Jourdain swerved and struck Minear, who witnesses said was knocked several feet into the air and landed on her head. The truck driver fled the scene.
Salesman Roy Guthrie, who dashed out of Terry Sash and Door Co. at 1199 E. Thompson, was the first to offer help. He and co-worker Joe Henderson put a blanket under Minear’s head and tried to comfort her before authorities arrived. In minutes, several units that had been patrolling the nearby Ventura County Fair arrived.
Minear has lived off and on at the hotel for six months, the hotel owner said.
Jourdain was not cited in the accident, but did receive a ticket for driving without car insurance.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
