OCEANSIDE — A 7-year-old girl from Vista was fatally struck by a black Toyota Tundra while crossing Mission Avenue with her family on July 5.
The family was crossing the street near the weekly swap meet, 200 yards west of a signaled crosswalk at Ocean Pointe.
Richard White Sr., the driver who struck the girl, said he slowed down when he saw the family waiting to cross the road. White, age 82, said the girl was behind an adult and not visible, and suddenly darted out into the westbound traffic lane.
White was unable to stop, or take actions to avoid hitting her.
He pulled over until Oceanside police and firefighters/paramedics arrived.
The young girl was taken by ambulance to Tri-City Medical Center where she was pronounced dead within half an hour of the collision.
Neither speed nor alcohol were factors in the incident. No charges against the driver have been made at this time.
Police Sgt. Ignacio Lopez said the fatality is tragic, and urges pedestrians to always use crosswalks.
“Please, please use the crosswalks,” Lopez said. “They are there for a reason.”
The collision is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call accident investigator Bryan Hendrix, of the Oceanside Police MAIT Team, at (760) 435-4882.
