MaryAnn White-Calhoun Killed in Pedestrian Crash in Newport Beach
The 69-year-old woman was struck on Irvine Avenue near Bristol Street
MaryAnn White-Calhoun, 69, was killed in a pedestrian crash in the 3400 block of Irvine Avenue near Bristol Street in Newport Beach on Wednesday, according to police.
The vehicle struck White-Calhoun at approximately 4 p.m. Authorities pronounced her dead at the scene.
The driver and passengers in the vehicle were taken to area hospitals. They suffered injuries not considered life-threatening, police said.
The investigation continues. Authorities have not announced any charges or citations.
Investigators will examine the circumstances that contributed to the vehicle striking the pedestrian. In pedestrian accidents such as this, safety analysts point to multiple factors as critical variables.
"Larger vehicles create dangers that most people simply don't fully appreciate until something tragic happens. The height of those front ends means a driver can completely lose sight of a pedestrian at close range," said Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal.
When a family is left behind after that kind of collision, an attorney's role is to piece together what the driver could and couldn't see, and hold every responsible party accountable, added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
Law enforcement will review potential surveillance footage from nearby businesses. They will also interview the driver and passengers who were hospitalized following the collision to understand the sequence of events.
"Insurance coverage in a fatal pedestrian crash is rarely as straightforward as surviving families expect it to be. An attorney helps families understand what coverage actually exists, challenges lowball valuations of what was lost, and makes sure the claims process doesn't quietly close before a family has truly been made whole," added Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
California wrongful death statute
Under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. California applies pure comparative fault. The statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering.