A vacation for a family visiting from Australia has ended tragically after a 50-year-old male tourist was struck-and-killed by a drunk driver in the 300 block of Colorado Avenue near the Santa Monica Pier entrance on Tuesday.
The man, along with his wife and eight-year-old daughter, were on the north sidewalk at the pedestrian crosswalk at 8:15 p.m. and started to cross despite the solid red “Don’t Walk Sign.”
The driver heading eastbound on Colorado Avenue from 2nd Street on a green light was unable to avoid the pedestrians and struck two of the family members.
SMPD Sgt. Richard Lewis said the 50-year-old man suffered critical injuries as a result of the collision; he was transported to a local trauma center.
“He succumbed to his injuries in the early morning hours of August 22, 2012,” Lewis said. “An eight-year-old female suffered minor injuries; she was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The third family member, a 43-year old female, was not injured.”
The driver, identified as 26-year-old Cara Cameron of Westchester, California, remained at the scene of the accident.
During the investigation, officers determined that Cameron was under the influence.
Cameron was taken into custody and booked at the Santa Monica jail for driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Cameron later posted $100,000.
Cameron’s arraignment date has been set for Sept. 21 at the LAX branch courthouse.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigators Chris Dawson or Jason Olson at 310.458.8954 or Sergeant Phillbo Rubish at 310.458.8950 or the Santa Monica Police Department (24 hours) at 310.458.8495.
