Man, woman struck and killed hours apart while crossing major street in Huntington Beach

HUNTINGTON BEACH – A man and woman were killed hours apart this weekend while crossing Beach Boulevard outside crosswalks, police said.

The woman, who authorities believe was 50-60 years old, was hit while crossing near Slater Avenue at about 10:48 p.m. Saturday, Huntington Beach Police Motor Sgt. Eric Warken said in a news release.

Responding officers found the woman in the roadway with significant trauma to her head and body. She was pronounced dead at the scene, Warken said.

The driver, a 47-year-old Cypress woman, remained at the scene, police said. There was major damage to the vehicle’s front end, hood and front windshield.

A preliminary investigation showed that as the woman crossed the street outside the crosswalk, the vehicle was heading north and approaching the intersection. The driver had a “steady” green light when the collision occurred, according to the release. The name of the woman killed was not immediately released.

The other accident occurred shortly before 3:17 a.m. Sunday, when a 19-year-old man was crossing Beach Boulevard, also outside the crosswalk, just north of the Warner Avenue intersection, police said. He was struck by a 2013 Kia Optima driving north.

Officers found the pedestrian in the roadway with significant trauma and he was pronounced dead at the scene. He was from Greeley, Colorado, Warken said. His name was not immediately released.

The Kia driver, a 26-year-old man from Riverside, remained at the scene. The Kia was heading north through the intersection on a green light when the collision happened, police said.

Additional details were not immediately available. It was unclear why either person struck was outside of areas designated for pedestrians.

“I was somewhat shocked when I found out what happened,” said Huntington Beach Police Lt. Kevin Johnson. “I haven’t seen two fatal collisions happen  so close to each other in a long time.”

He said there are many businesses and residential neighborhoods along Beach Boulevard, which is often congested with foot and vehicle traffic. However, he described the areas where the two fatal collisions happened as well lit, with crosswalks reasonably spaced from each other.

Investigators are seeking witnesses to both collisions. They are urged to call Huntington Beach Police Accident Investigator A. Turner at 714-536-5670 or Accident Investigator B. Atkins at 714-536-5666.

Staff writer Eric Licas contributed to this story.