SANTA BARBARA - Today (12/4/09) just after 8 am 56 year old Janette Zuzalek and her mother were on foot and left the south east curb at
Loma Alta and Shoreline Dr walking northbound when they were struck by a 20 year old man turning his F-150 truck turning left onto Shoreline Drive from Loma Alta.
The two women were approximately two to three feet outside of the crosswalk, but Police content that they had established their position in the roadway thus giving them the right-of-way.
Sean Cornelis (20 yrs) told police that "the sun was in his eyes and suddenly felt the 'thump' and saw Zuzalek’s mother standing in front his truck. He immediately stopped and got out of his truck to see Zuzalek lying on the roadway."
Authorities said several people stopped to assist, including off-duty medical personnel. Zuzalek had no pulse and wasn’t breathing. CPR was started and then handed off to AMR. Zuzalek was rushed to the hospital with a severe skull fracture and no brain activity. Just after noon today Zuzalek succumbed to her injuries and was declared “brain dead”. She was being kept alive by a ventilator until family members arrived from out of town.
The Santa Barbara Police Department Collision Reconstruction Team responded to assist in the investigation and at this time it is unknown, if any charges, will be filed.