A pregnant woman died after being struck by a car while walking on an Anaheim sidewalk Tuesday, officials said.
The baby was removed from the mother’s body and was being treated, Anaheim police Sgt. Shane Carringer told KTLA. The woman was believed to be 35 weeks pregnant, he said.
Police received a call around 7:37 p.m. regarding a traffic collision involving a vehicle versus a pedestrian near Bayless Street and Katella Avenue, east of Euclid Street, according to Sgt. Jon Yepes of the Anaheim Police Department.
Authorities determined that the vehicle, a white Jeep, jumped the curb and struck the pregnant woman who was walking with her husband on the sidewalk.
The unidentified woman was taken to the UC Irvine Medical Center and was initially listed in critical conditions before being pronounced dead, according to police. She was 23 years old, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Her husband was not injured, officials said.
The woman driving the Jeep was suspected to be under the influence, and was transported to a hospital with minor to moderate injuries, officials said. She has two prior DUIs and was driving with a suspended license, Carringer said.
Police later identified her as 40-year-old Courtney Pandolfi of Garden Grove. Pandolfi was placed under arrest for vehicular manslaughter, felony driving under the influence and driving on a suspended license.
David Orozco witnessed the incident and says he heard a loud boom and saw the pregnant woman’s head “was banged up.”
“The husband was, I think, checking her pulse and when he checked, he screamed,” Orozco said.
The area of Katella Avenue between Euclid Street and Ninth Street was closed while authorities examined the scene.
Anyone with information regarding the incident was asked to call the department at 714-765-1900.
