Man in crosswalk struck by car, killed in Sebastopol

A man was struck by a car and killed Wednesday evening in a crosswalk on Healdsburg Avenue in Sebastopol, police said.

The man, who was not identified pending notification of his family, was in a crosswalk near Murphy Avenue when he was hit by a westbound red Ford sedan.

"We think he was killed upon impact," said Sebastopol Police Chief Jeff Weaver. "Our preliminary investigation does not indicate that there was any alcohol or drug impairment, and the driver is cooperating."

Healdsburg Avenue, part of Highway 116, was closed in both directions while police investigated the cause of the accident, which occurred at about 7 p.m., he said. The road was reopened about 10 p.m.

Weaver said the crosswalk was marked with enhanced lights on the ground and a yellow overhead signal. A witness told police that the light was on and flashing when the man was hit. But, Weaver said, investigators had not confirmed any lights were activated or who was at fault.

Witnesses said the victim appeared to be an older man. When police investigators arrived at the scene about 8 p.m., a yellow tarp was draped over the victim. He lay on the ground near a green-painted crosswalk. A black sneaker and a light-blue visor were on the ground about 20 feet from the body.

Wednesday's accident occurred several hundred feet from where a crosswalk collision in 2009 left a Sebastopol 16-year-old with serious brain injuries.

The family of Julia Bertoli sued the city of Sebastopol, Caltrans and the driver of the Toyota Corolla that struck Bertoli after the teen was hit in a crosswalk near Florence Avenue on July 3, 2009.

That case is set for trial in May.

You can reach Staff Writers Elizabeth M. Cosin at 521-5276 or elizabeth.cosin@pressdemocrat.com and Jamie Hansen at 521-5205 or jamie.hansen@pressdemocrat.com.