A pedestrian who was hit by a car while crossing Sunrise Boulevard last Saturday night has died in the hospital after succumbing to his injuries, police Lt. David Gutierrez said Monday.
The collision occurred on Sunrise Boulevard near Stanford Avenue around 5:50 p.m. on Feb. 4, involving two pedestrians and a Toyota Prius. The second pedestrian is listed in stable condition, Gutierrez said.
The collision caused police to close down a section of Sunrise Boulevard north of Antelope Road for about six hours, allowing for an investigation by the department’s traffic unit.
In a weekend news release, police said a preliminary investigation indicated that a man in his late sixties and a woman in her early fifties attempted to cross Sunrise Boulevard outside of a crosswalk when they were struck by a small sedan traveling southbound. The man was initially listed in critical condition, but later died.
Police said the driver involved was cooperative with the investigation, and officers do not believe speed or alcohol were factors on behalf of the driver.
Several neighbors described the collision location on Sunrise Boulevard as an ongoing problem with pedestrians crossing the roadway to get to a nearby bus stop and community park.
Neighbor Jamie Vences told The Sentinel that pedestrians “constantly” use the location to cross the roadway to get from apartments on Sunrise Boulevard over to Madera Park, located about 600 feet away. She said pedestrians also cross at the location with kids and strollers.
The nearest crosswalk on Sunrise Boulevard is located about 1,900 feet away at Twin Oaks Avenue. Another crosswalk is located about 2,000 feet away at Antelope Road.
Lt. Gutierrez said he was not aware of any past issues with pedestrians crossing at the location, but noted the police investigation will include looking into the amount of collisions in the nearby area.
Police are still seeking to contact anyone who may have witnessed the collision. The Citrus Heights Police Department’s non-emergency number is (916) 727-5500.
