By Jorge Casuso

January 16, 2024 -- A woman in her fifties was killed by a car as she walked across Lincoln Boulevard Saturday, marking the second pedestrian fatality in the past month, according to police.

The victims in both accidents were homeless, police said.

The accidents come amid a recent rise in collisions involving pedestrians that resulted in serious injuries or deaths ("Injury Crashes Involving Pedestrians Rising," January 16, 2024).

Saturday's fatal crash took place at approximately 1:50 a.m. on the 2900 block of Lincoln, police officials said.

"A vehicle was heading southbound on Lincoln Boulevard in the number one lane when it struck a pedestrian also traveling southbound in the roadway pushing a cart," said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Polide Department spokesperson.

"The pedestrian, a woman in her 50s who appears to be homeless, has not been identified" by the coroner, Aklufi said.

The driver remained on the scene and is cooperating with investigators, she said. There were no signs the driver was impaired.

The fatal collision comes three weeks after a 40-year-old homeless woman was struck by a car at the intersection of 4th Street and Washington Avenue on Christmas Eve and died of her injuries two weeks later.

The victim was crossing southbound on 4th Street at approximately 7:52 p.m., when she was struck by a 2017 Toyota Tundra traveling westbound, according to police.

The driver, a resident of Thousand Oaks, stayed at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, police said. The driver showed no sign of being impaired.

"SMPD traffic investigators are still investigating all factors that contributed to this collision to determine whether charges will be presented for criminal prosecution," Aklufi said.

"The pedestrian, who remained unidentified for several days, suffered severe head injuries and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital," Aklufi said.

"Despite the doctors’ best efforts, the pedestrian passed away on January 5 as a result of the collision," she said.

Two days later, on January 7, a pedestrian pushing a stroller with a two-year-old child was struck as they were crossing southbound on San Vicente Boulevard at 19th Street.