COSTA MESA
A 66-year-old Costa Mesa man died at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian on Tuesday night, a week after he was struck by a motorist backing out of her driveway.
Hideaki Tochikubo died from injuries suffered Feb. 1 while he was gardening in a Corona del Mar neighborhood. His death surprised Newport Beach police, who had investigated what appeared to be a minor traffic accident.
Tochikubo was working near the intersection of Way Lane and Fernleaf Avenue, an area known for its narrow streets. Police said he was using a leaf blower and likely did not hear or see Jennifer Wagner, 26, of Corona del Mar as she backed her Ford Explorer into the street.
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