Pedestrian struck, killed by car in Petaluma

A Petaluma man crossing a street near his home was struck by a car and killed Monday evening.

Investigators are examining whether Bernard O’Donnell, 54, may have tripped or lost his footing just before he was hit, Petaluma police Sgt. Jeremy Walsh said.

O’Donnell was struck about 5:30 p.m. while attempting to cross North McDowell Boulevard just south of Corona Road. He’d safely navigated the two northbound lanes to the raised center median and had just started into the first southbound lane when he was struck by an older-model Honda Civic driven by Cecilia Gallego, 83, of Petaluma, police said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gallego stopped immediately and has cooperated with investigators, Walsh said. Preliminarily, alcohol or drugs aren’t suspected as factors.

Police closed the southbound lanes for more than four hours while they investigated the accident.

The area is illuminated by street lights but there is no crosswalk. O’Donnell may have chosen to cross in that area because he lived close by and could have been returning home, Walsh said.

Police asked witnesses or anyone with information to contact Officer Mario Giomi at 707-776-3722.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.