Woman Killed on Freeway Identified

A young homeless mother who was struck and killed on the Ventura Freeway earlier this week after she ran in front of a pickup truck traveling in the fast lane has been identified, authorities said.

Misty Ervin, 20, died instantly in the incident, which occurred about 9 p.m. Tuesday on the southbound lanes just north of California 33, according to the California Highway Patrol and coroner’s officials.

Authorities declined to identify the truck driver, except to say he was a county resident and will not be charged.

Ervin was wearing black jeans and a long-sleeve black jacket.

“She had some mental problems and a bit of a substance-abuse problem,” said James Baroni, a deputy coroner.

Just before the crash, CHP officers were driving northbound on the freeway and saw Ervin, Baroni said. The officers were responding to a call of a person jogging on the freeway.

Officers crossed over to the southbound side but before they could reach her, Ervin darted into traffic, Baroni said. She died from massive head injuries.

Baroni said Ervin moved from Oklahoma to Ventura about three years ago and had lived with a boyfriend before ending up on the streets. At the time of the crash, Ervin’s toddler-age daughter was living with family members.