Oxnard Police Say Sunlight Might Have Played A Role In Traffic Death Of Supervisor Ramirez

Thursday August 18, 2022

(Photo shows driver's point of view, but not proper time of day)

     Oxnard police are looking into whether glare from the sun may have contributed to the tragic collision that claimed the life of Ventura County Supervisor Carmen Ramirez.

     The 73-year-old Ramirez died after being struck by a pickup truck on Friday, August 12th as she walked southbound across Seventh Street at "A" Street within the west crosswalk.

     Police say the driver of the pickup, a 38-year-old Oxnard man, was westbound on Seventh around 6:40 PM, an hour before sunset, when it happened.

     They say tests have shown he was not impaired by alcohol or drugs and had stopped at the stop sign before continuing across "A" Street where he struck Ramirez.

     He stayed at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.

     Police say "Investigators are working to determine the possibility and/or extent that sunlight glare contributed to the driver's ability, as he was proceeding westbound, directly towards the setting sun."

     They say traffic investigators continue to work to establish all primary factors and any potential related factors.