UPDATE: Woman Killed Trying To Drop Off Flowers At Site Of Fatal Crash
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A 79-year-old attempting to drop off flowers at a roadside vigil on Monday night was struck and killed by a passing car, police said.
Kathryn "Kitty" O'Farrell was crossing the street on W. El Camino Avenue near Colfax Street in north Sacramento when she was struck and killed near the same spot where a 30-year-old man died early Sunday morning. People were praying and singing at the vigil when the woman was killed.
O'Farrell didn't know the earlier victim but lived in the neighborhood and wanted to pay her respects. She was also instrumental in getting a traffic installed at El Camino and Colfax, CBS13's Nick Janes reported. The signal was installed in 2009 and accidents in the area have dropped considerably, according to Sacramento city spokeswoman Linda Tucker.
"She was a wonderful woman just trying to show some love, and an accident happened," said the victim's daughter Kelly DeLeon.
She was killed just feet from her home.
"She was much loved by everybody," Kelly said of her mom. "She is the matriarch (of the neighborhood) as a matter of fact."
Just as the 40-year resident of this neighborhood got across the street, the car hit her and she was thrown several feet.
Neighbor and friend Anna Cervantes says Kitty was happy because her 42-year anniversary with boyfriend Vic was coming up.
"I went to her house on Sunday, and she was so happy," she said.
Her anniversary was Monday.
"I am still in shock," Cervantes said. "I'm still nervous. I don't feel my legs. I feel so bad."
And now the memorial has grown for two victims. New flowers and candles have been placed there to honor the woman loved by so many on this street.
"She was a wonderful woman, lots of friends, and didn't judge anybody," her daughter said.
The driver Monday wasn't arrested and told police Kitty wasn't visible in the dimly lit street.
The male victim Sunday was ejected from an SUV when it was hit from behind by a sedan driven by Reena Ashlie Sanchez, 24. Sacramento Police arrested Sanchez for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and child endangerment. She had her children, ages 1 and 2, in the car with her.
The children were checked out at a local hospital and turned over to protective custody. Sanchez was booked into the Sacramento County Jail.
