Homeless Woman Killed In Freak Accident In Norwalk

NORWALK, CA — A 62-year-old homeless woman was killed Thursday when an SUV went over the side of the southbound San Gabriel River (605) Freeway in Norwalk and struck her as she sat in a dirt median between the freeway and the Firestone Boulevard off-ramp.

The fatality was occurred at 4:22 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol, which identified the victim as Pauline Widuschek.

Her age was provided by the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Widuschek was struck by a 1998 Toyota 4Runner driven by Leopold Brito of Lynwood, believed to be in his 60s or 70s, who was taken to a hospital for treatment of moderate injuries, the CHP reported.

Brito was driving in the number six lane and allowed the Toyota to veer to the right, across the shoulder and into an asphalt berm separating the shoulder from a steep dirt embankment, according to the CHP.

The SUV struck a tree and then hit Widuschek, who suffered fatal injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Toyota then hit a chain link fence at the end of the off-ramp and a 1999 GMC Yukon being driven south on Firestone Boulevard by a 45-year-old Lynwood woman.

Both vehicles came to rest in the number two lane of westbound Firestone Boulevard, just west of the freeway, according to the CHP.

No arrests were reported.

— City News Service, photo via Shutterstock