Man hit on Auburn Blvd Friday night expected to survive, police say

Citrus Heights police said a pedestrian hit near Walmart on Auburn Boulevard Friday night is “going to be okay,” although an elderly woman struck on the boulevard two weeks ago suffered a far worse fate.

Police Sgt. Nicole Garing, reached by phone late Friday night, said the pedestrian involved in the most recent collision was being treated for his injuries, after being hit by a car around 7 p.m. while attempting to cross Auburn Boulevard at Carriage Drive.

Garing said it appeared the pedestrian “wasn’t in a crosswalk” and was “going against red” when he was hit in the middle of the intersection. She said a full police report was still to be written, but stated “it doesn’t sound like the driver was at fault.”

Friday night’s collision resulted in police closing down one lane of Auburn Boulevard at Carriage Drive for about an hour, while officers investigated the scene. Several officers were observed measuring distances on the pavement and were heard concluding the pedestrian flew 13 feet before landing in the roadway.

The driver of the vehicle involved, who preferred not give his name, said the pedestrian was wearing dark clothing and noted that a street lamp pole at the intersection was not lit, making it more difficult for him to see. No crosswalk exists on Auburn Boulevard on the side of the intersection where the pedestrian was reportedly hit.

Although police reported zero fatalities on Citrus Heights roadways last year, at least six people have been killed on city streets in 2015 so far.

The latest fatal accident also involved a pedestrian reportedly trying to cross Auburn Boulevard outside of a crosswalk, near Antelope Road on Nov. 23. Although initially surviving the collision the woman died several days later. She was identified by the Sacramento County Coroner’s office as 75-year-old Vera Tarusov, and was reportedly leaving a memorial service at a church on Auburn Boulevard when she was hit.

[Related: CHPD hopes to reduce fatalities with $236k traffic safety grant]

In a news release issued last month, Citrus Heights police said they are hopeful a recently awarded $236,000 traffic safety grant will help the Department curb a “particularly alarming” increase in pedestrian and bike-related fatalities on city streets.

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