The death toll from the accident involving an allegedly intoxicated driver and a dozen pedestrians leaving a church in Redondo Beach has climbed to three, and nine victims — including two children — remain hospitalized, authorities said today.
The 12 were struck by a white Saturn in a pedestrian crosswalk near the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Vincent Street as they left a church concert around 8 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.
Two of the victims were elderly women from Torrance — Mary Wilson, 81, and Saeko Matsumura, 87 — said Investigator Kristy McCracken of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. She added that the name of the third fatal victim, who has next-of-kin among the injured, would not be released immediately.
The female driver of the vehicle, a white Saturn, was booked for vehicular manslaughter and felony DUI, said Redondo Beach police Lt. Joe Hoffman. He told a news videographer at the scene that she ran a red light and struck the victims as they crossed northbound PCH.
After striking the victims, the driver continued northbound, eventually colliding head-on with another vehicle, Hoffman said. For a time, she dragged one of the victims, police said.
Some of the injured are in critical condition, Hoffman said.
