Marin coroner identifies San Rafael pedestrian, 19, hit by truck

The pedestrian struck and killed by a vehicle in San Rafael on Wednesday was Lucia Jennifer Blandina Sontay Vicente, 19, the county coroner’s office said Thursday.

Sontay Vicente, a San Rafael resident, graduated from San Rafael High School last year, the school district said. The crash happened about three-quarters of a mile east of the school.

“This loss reminds us of the importance of community and compassion,” the school’s principal, Joe Dominguez, wrote in a letter to staff and parents. “I know you join me in conveying our heartfelt condolences to Jennifer’s family and friends. We will support each other in the days and weeks ahead as we process this difficult news together.”

Sontay Vicente was crossing Point San Pedro Road at Summit Avenue at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday when a Toyota Tundra pickup truck hit her, according to the California Highway Patrol. The CHP is investigating the incident and does not suspect the driver of intoxication.

Sontay Vicente was one of several pedestrians killed by vehicles in San Rafael in recent months. The others include Susan Jung, 86, of San Rafael, who was struck at A and Second streets in October; and Patricia Oji, 73, of Fairfax, who was struck at Third and E streets in September.

In 2015, Aura Celeste Machado, a 17-year-old San Rafael High School student, was struck and killed by a van while jogging along Point San Pedro Road near Manderly Road. The site is near Summit Avenue but within city limits. Authorities did not cite or charge the 69-year-old driver.

The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit that alleged Machado was forced to jog into the road because the city had failed to remove a tree limb that had fallen into the sidewalk. The case ended with a settlement that included a $450,000 payment from the city, $300,000 from the driver and $50,000 from the county.