Pregnant 14-Year-Old Who Was Struck by Car Dies

A pregnant 14-year-old Oxnard resident died Friday night, a day after being struck by a car in Port Hueneme as she tried to cross a busy street, authorities said.

Arlene Marrufo was crossing in the 500 block of Hueneme Road about 5 p.m. Thursday when a car struck her as she stepped off the center divider, police said.

The driver of the car, 22-year-old Gerald Capati of Oxnard, was driving the speed limit and tried to brake in time to avoid hitting the girl, according to Port Hueneme Police Sgt. Chris Graham.

“It looks like she just stepped right off the curb in front of him,” Graham said. “He didn’t have time to stop.”

When police arrived at the scene, authorities said, Marrufo was lying on the center island with severe facial and head injuries. She was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center, where doctors performed an emergency Caesarean procedure to save her baby. Marrufo was seven months’ pregnant, authorities said.

Marrufo was listed in critical condition for nearly a day before dying Friday evening. Her baby, a boy, appeared to be doing well in the intensive care unit, Graham said.

Graham said a preliminary investigation indicates the driver was not at fault.

An investigation into the accident, however, is continuing. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Port Hueneme Police Department at 986-6530.