Santa Ana Woman, 76, Is Hit, Killed by Van While Crossing Street

A 76-year-old Santa Ana woman was fatally injured Monday when she was struck by a van while crossing a street near her home, police said.

Officers responding to a call at 5:38 a.m. at Bristol and Highland streets found Natalia Gonzalez lying on the pavement. She was transported to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where she died four hours later of severe head injuries, Santa Ana Police Sgt. Steve Despenas said.

Gonzalez’s husband, Jose Palomares, was walking a few steps behind her and was not struck.

“The sad part is her husband saw her get hit,” Despenas said.

The vehicle was a 1990 Mazda van driven by Gabriel Maldonado, 26. He was not charged, Despenas said. Neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to be a factor in the accident.

An investigation of the accident is continuing, Despenas said. The intersection where the couple crossed does not have a marked pedestrian walkway or traffic signal, he said.