Community Corner
Grandmother, 76, Killed in San Clemente Hit-and-Run
Woman had been walking in crosswalk with 13-year-old grandson.
A 76-year-old grandmother died after a van struck her Thursday while she walked along Pacific Coast Highway in San Clemente with her grandson, authorities said.
The woman, who has not been identified, and her 13-year-old grandson had been traveling northbound on PCH, south of Camino Capistrano. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has not released the pedestrians’ identities pending notification of the family.
According to Lt. Steve Gil, at 8:33 p.m. deputies received a call that a white Volkswagen van careened into the two as they crossed the street at a designated crosswalk.
“The grandmother was pronounced dead at the scene,” Gil said. “The 13-year-old grandson had very minor injuries.”
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Gil said the grandson was not transported to a hospital but was treated at the scene.
According to Gil, the van, driven by a woman, continued northbound on the road, and a witness followed the van until deputies stopped the vehicle in Dana Point.
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Deputies identified the van driver as 45-year-old Kelly Michelle Wolfe of Dana Point. Officials are investigating Wolfe on suspicion of driving under the influence and of hit-and-run. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
Gil said the incident had “irreversibly damaged” the lives of the people involved, and, he added, the grandmother should have experienced many more years with her family.
“We have no idea how much longer she was going to live, or what kind of contribution she was going to make,” Gil said.
Authorities are withholding the names until the families have been notified.
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