Truck Kills Female Pedestrian, Injures Man
A woman was killed and her male companion critically injured outside the annual Cajun festival when the pair ran in front of a truck allegedly operated by a drunk driver, authorities reported Saturday.
The woman, who is believed to have been in her 30s and from outside the county, was pronounced dead at Simi Valley Hospital shortly after the 7:30 p.m. crash, said Simi Valley Police Sgt. Karl Becker.
The man, who is about the same age, was in extremely critical condition Saturday night at the hospital, Becker said. Authorities would not release the victims’ identities.
According to Becker, the couple were either running to or from the 11th annual Cajun Creole Music Festival when they stepped into the path of the truck, which was traveling in the 5000 block of Los Angeles Avenue.
The victims had been at the festival at some point because both were wearing colorful beads and other Cajun costume paraphernalia handed out at the event. It was unclear if the truck driver had been at the festival, where beer was sold.
The truck driver was arrested and booked on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Police working at the festival were near the scene of the crash and immediately ran to the victims and called for more help.
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