A woman identified only as Paula was struck by a car Tuesday evening at the corner of Park and North Carson streets. A smattering of pennies, a Styrofoam cup and a room key lay on the street at the point of impact.
According to Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Dean Reynolds, it appears that the woman was crossing outside of the crosswalk when the accident occurred.
"I saw her about 4 to 5 feet before, there was no way I could stop," said Walter Hirsch who was driving the vehicle that hit her. Hirsch said Paula was awake when he got out of the vehicle.
"I was glad to see her moving," he added. Hirsch called 911 with his cellular phone and said the Nevada Highway Patrol arrived on the scene within minutes. Both bystanders and the reporting officers speculated that the woman may have been intoxicated.
Shellie Becker, clerk at the Short Stop market where the accident occurred, said this particular crosswalk isn't very safe. "It's a bad crosswalk, people just don't stop, but this guy really tried to stop." Becker said the woman was dressed in blue pants and a black top. A neighbor of the victim's at the Round House Inn said she had just left the motel when the accident occurred.
"This is exactly why we do the (crosswalk) stings," said Reynolds. Reynolds said the risk is higher at night because of the lack of lighting but the volume of traffic on the street isn't as high and so the stings are done during the daytime.
Reynolds said an investigation of cause is pending. No charges were filed against the driver.
Carson-Tahoe Hospital emergency room personnel were unable to release any information on the woman's condition.