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Harding, Larmore
Kutcher & Kozal, LLP

April 4, 2017 -- A woman crossing Santa Monica Boulevard early Monday morning became the fifth pedestrian fatality in Santa Monica this year.

The woman was running northbound in the crosswalk at 18th Street when she was struck by a vehicle traveling eastbound on the boulevard, according to a preliminary investigation.

Santa Monica Fire Department Paramedics responded and treated the victim at the scene before transporting her to a local hospital, where she died of her injuries.

The driver of the vehicle was not injured and "is cooperating with the investigation and there have been no indications the driver was impaired," said Lt. Saul Rodriguez, the Police Department spokesman.

The incident marks the fifth pedestrian fatality this year, all within the past month, according to police data.

On March 4, a pedestrian struck on the 1700 block of Pico Boulevard subsequently died after sustaining serious injuries.

The following day, a man was struck by a hit-and-run driver on the 2400 block of Nielson Way. He, too, subsequently died, police said. The driver remains at large.

On the evening of March 16, a car struck a woman walking in a crosswalk at the intersection of Lincoln and Hill Street. She was transported to a local hospital, where she died that night ("Pedestrian Killed in Santa Monica Victim of Rising Number of Collisions," March 17, 2017).

Five days later, a hit-and-run driver struck a man standing at a parking payment booth in Santa Monica’s Civic Center Parking Lot.

The driver, Absadi Kidane was charged with vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run and forcibly resisting arrest.

The Los Angeles Superior Court judge overseeing the case denied bail, saying the incident could be connected to terrorism ("Judge Keeps Santa Monica Hit and Run Suspect’s Bail at $10 Million, Citing Possible Terrorism," March 27, 2017).

The investigation in Monday's fatal collision is ongoing and investigators are interested in speaking with anyone who was in the area near the time the incident took place.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Investigator Jason Olson at (310) 458-8954, Sergeant Joseph Cortez at (310) 458- 8713 or the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8495.