The Antelope Valley Times

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Woman hit, killed by car in Lancaster, witnesses sought

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The crash happened around 6:55 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 on Avenue J at Date Avenue, according to a news release from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
The crash happened around 6:55 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 on Avenue J at Date Avenue, according to a news release from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
LANCASTER — A woman died after she was hit by a car while trying to cross the street in Lancaster Sunday night, authorities said.

Michelle Denise Corkum, 47, of Lancaster was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision, according to coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

The crash happened around 6:55 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, on Avenue J near Date Avenue, according to a news release from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

The driver remained at the scene, sheriff’s officials said. [LUIS MEZA]
The driver remained at the scene, sheriff’s officials said. [LUIS MEZA]
Corkum was attempting to cross southbound on Avenue J when she was struck by black 2015 Nissan Versa that was traveling west on Avenue J in the No. 2 lane at approximately 40 miles per hour, according to the news release.

“[Corkum] was wearing dark clothing in a poorly lit area, and [the driver] did not see her until impact. Neither alcohol/drugs nor speed appear to be a factor in this collision,” the news release states.

The driver remained at the scene, sheriff’s officials said.

“During the course of this investigation, it was determined there were several vehicles/drivers that had to make evasive maneuvers in order to avoid both parties. None of those potential witnesses made themselves known to responding deputies,” the news release states.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact Detective Bodily at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station at 661-948-8466.

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Filed Under: Lancaster

41 comments for "Woman hit, killed by car in Lancaster, witnesses sought"

    • she wasn’t in an intersection/unmarked crosswalk…. she was crossing in between date & elm both of which would be an unmarked crosswalk. Two signal controlled crosswalks were very close to where she walked into traffic. The pedestrian still has a responsibility to not cross until safe to do so. She, by admission of a friend on these comments, was a frequent j walker. Lazy is what that is!

      • No disagreement on this case. However, many drivers today seem very unaware of pedestrian traffic laws. I like to teach where I can.

    • Although pedestrians have the right-of-way, they also must abide by the rules of the road. A pedestrian should not suddenly leave a curb, or other place of safety, and cross into the path of a vehicle as this creates an immediate hazard. Furthermore, a pedestrian must not stop unnecessarily or delay traffic while in a crosswalk.

  3. Break the law, you face the consequences.. plain and simple. it’s just sad that in this instance it was death.. people need to stop making excuses for others plain negligence.

      • a cross walk is a legal and safer place to cross the street, as it is intended to control traffic it would also make holding the driver accountable for their actions if they ran a red light or moved their vehicle when it was not supposed to. j walking across 7 lanes of traffic, in the dark, while wearing dark clothing is obviously not the drivers fault

    • Until it happens to one of your family members you will feel the pain. So be weary of the who casts the first stone! RIP

  6. Lets start from the westside:
    1) Ave. L between 40th west and 42nd. no indicated crosswalks, notorious jay-walkers, to and fro the Vons shopping center. As well 40th west between Ave. L and K-12.
    2) All around QHSS and Paraclete when they let the track and field students practice off-campus, notorious jay-joggers. Yes I have put in complaints about.
    3) Ave. L, area of 7-11, notorious slurpee buyers crossing 50mph 4 lane traffic…SMH
    4) Ave. K and 30th west, campus pedestrians jay-walking even at the crosswalk, when they clearly have a red “do not walk” signal.
    5) Ave. L between 27th west and 30th west, I have seen the same uniformed employees, even sometimes with Taco Bell in hand, drinking away on a big soft drink jay-walk right in front of on-coming traffic.
    ..and so on.
    And yes this area of the accident in the article is like a GAUNTLET of JAYWALKERS!
    ….the Antelope Valleys street grid is set at about 1 mile blocks(whew), but most market areas are set along major intersections, with traffic lights and crosswalks. USE THEM correctly. JEEZ! Although there is always going to be a handful of folks that just don’t GAF about either or in any city.
    We all just gotta practice to acknowledge our mistakes, our laziness, our surroundings, and to stay aware and alert at all times.

  7. shut up with the arguing and commenting [removed] there was no way he did not see her if he was PAYING ATTENTION !! he is at fault regardless of j walking or not you don’t just hit someone if your eyes are on the road !

    • from government-fleet.com

      ..Studies have shown that it takes the average driver from one-half to three-quarters of a second to perceive a need to hit the brakes, and another three-quarters of a second to move your foot from the gas to the brake pedal. Everybody’s reaction times are different, but that’s up to a full one-and-a-half seconds between when you first start to realize you’re in trouble and before you even start to slow down.

      Oh and by the way…. 1000 lbs. vs 200 lbs. How do you really think that measures out?

      This story is very personal to me as I have hit another car and injured the passenger because I swerved to miss a JAY-WALKER! And the JAY-WALKER, seemed to walk away guilt-free, as if it was ultimately my fault for driving in my lane. Division and J-5…..

    • Ive driven thru the same streets several times and i do have eyes on the road and yes its hard to see people in that dark area especially when they are wearing black so its neither fault. Accidents happen theirs many things that couldve prevented that but why name those things what happen happen we cant take it back but neither can we blame the driver. Ive myself almost hit someone same area of the accident. People need to be more aware cause than drivers get blamed for everything that happens regardless if it isnt their fault

    • since when did you become judge & jury? so you are stating, that the driver saw her and intentionally hit her with his car? were you there? perhaps you should do some research on vehicle vs pedestrians court cases before you continue to spew your ignorance. Was this a tragedy? yes! It was also 100% avoidable by the pedestrian. Just because a car hit her, doesn’t automatically make the driver at fault.

  8. Put some street lights up and brighten up Lancaster! It’s dangerous and we pay taxes just like Palmdale, but Palmdale has bright street lights. I’ve lived in Lancaster 3 months and so many people cross the street j-walking and you can’t see them. I don’t know if this was the case with this lady, but put some damn lights up!
    Prayers for this lady and her family.

    • how about people stop living dangerously, and stop j walking? why blame the city for people who choose to disobey the law and lack common sense?

    • It would also help if people would walk to the next intersection where they are supposed to cross and maybe not try to act so shady when they cross the street. Seriously dark clothing on a dark street and crossing with no light with traffic expecting everyone to just stop for you like you own everything and you are invincible.

      Stop playing Frogger in the streets!

  9. People die evryday. By the bunch. U cannot change. Future. Inccodents. Can only drive carefull

  10. It is very unfortunate this happened. Condolences to family, however Ave J has very bad lighting at night that should be fixed by the city. Also jay walking on Ave J is a a everyday occurrence & a lot of pedestrians just run across without any concern for themselves and drivers

  11. How traumatic for the driver to experience this … why would the pedestrian try to Jay walk Across traffic in the dark in the middle of a major street? So sad, the grief and hurt she is causing her family and friends, over something completely 100% avoidable.

    • Man on the real watch out with all that, everybody j walk including kids. When yall took yall dmv written it says “Beware of your surroundings” I say the driver wasn’t paying any type of attention. I drive at night all the time I wear glasses so I can see clear at night, spotted a person with nothing but all black on I didn’t hit him. SMH then you blame the person who got hit for making their family sad. You should be ashamed of yourself that’d not her fault she wasn’t driving the person was. Like I said the drive had to see her, the sun was barley going down. THAT area had good lighting.

      • Justice your stupid the blame is on the person who was walking in the dark and not in a Crosswalk

      • While drivers do need to be aware of their surroundings, so do pedestrians. In stating that “everybody j walk,” you neglect to include that jaywalking is illegal. Just because everybody does it doesn’t excuse them from breaking the law and most certainly doesn’t make it right. This is a tragic situation. A life was lost and another changed as a result of a decision to cross outside of a legal crosswalk in an area well known for not being well lit at night. Tragic, sad, and very avoidable.

      • The pedestrian made a choice to j-walk and is just as responsible as the driver for being aware of their surroundings. If you read the article it did say that it was a dark intersection and speed was not a factor. Cars are illuminated with their headlights the pedestrian should have seen the car and waited. It was a preventable accident. I was not there so I can’t judge either party involved, but I do pray for them and their families. Stop placing yourself on a pedestal, like you couldn’t have made the same mistake, it could happen to anyone, even you.

      • just because everyone j walks doesnt mean they should and that its ok or even legal. if the sun was barely going down, the driver couldve been blinded. common sense says you dont walk across 6 or 7 lanes of traffic when it isnt safe to do so.

      • At 6:55 the sun is not barley going down. its just about GONE! Don’t twist this on the driver. Don’t J Walk don’t be impatient and use the dang crosswalk. I bet you are they kind of person who Jwalks and not use a crosswalk because you are impatient and have no care for anyone else but your narcissistic self.

    • Your a [removed] disrespectful [removed], even if she thought she could cross the street quick enough, the car MUST not have been paying attention to stop or let alone even slow down . I hope your [removed] gets hit when you think your ok walking outside.

      • Depends on how fast that person ran out in the street. Timing everything is about timing it is possible to run out in front of someone just in time to get hit. A car takes a lot longer to slow down than it does for you to stop. Its not always the drivers fault. Pedestrians need to also be aware

      • maybe the driver was changing lanes and looking over their shoulder. maybe the driver saw something else around them that got their attention.
        maybe the driver was trying to miss the dozens of potholes in the traffic lanes.
        maybe the driver wasn’t expecting someone in dark clothing jump in front of their moving car.
        maybe the driver came around the corner and boom there she was.
        maybe the deceased didn’t see the headlights on the car, just as the car didn’t see her.
        maybe the deceased was the woman stopping in the street banging on cars, as earlier reported.
        maybe the deceased should have walked to a legal and safe corner to cross
        maybe the deceased should have been wearing reflective clothing or carry a flash light.
        maybe the deceased persons friends or family should have given her a ride so she didnt have to walk.
        maybe the deceased was drunk or high or distracted on HER cell phone.
        maybe the deceased, at 47 years old, didn’t care about her responsibility as a pedestrian.
        maybe the deceased was depressed and suicidal and wanted to die.
        so many variations that could of happened, and unless the MAD ONE ^^^ was there, they have no business talking [removed] and calling people names.
        I’m mad too at people having total disregard for laws. Total disregard for safety of themselves and others.

        a

  12. I just seen a j-walker in the same part of the street this morning. I almost hit her myself. Cars on this road go too fast to stop in time for someone crossing illegally, especially at night.

    • For everyone saying that jay walkers crap yes I understand that don’t jay walk but she crossed at the street where the Cara cross at.who’s gonna walk 4 blocks down to cross the street at the light when she ran across the street.I’ve known her for many years and she’s a jay walker to hurry up and get across and careful not like these other [removed] who demand u to stop while they take there time crossing .all the unnecessary comments are just stupid.what if your Ioved one got hit and died like this would u want others saying [removed]. That street has Noe lights and people r going 60 plus not caring its a [removed] shame.and no the family isn’t blaming anyone but we do want closer to how fast the guy was going ect..so please future comments have a heart and stop being rude cuz at the end of the day she was a mother sister aunt a friend who passed away.

      • it wasnt 4 blocks to a cross walk
        if you have known her for many years, why didnt you give her a ride?
        if she j walks all the time, why didn’t you or her caring family tell her she was behaving dangerously, that it’s unsafe?
        the family IS and WAS blaming the driver on various social media threads…. read up on Betty’s words!
        there are some lights, not NOE lights and its 40 mph with 7 lanes of traffic.
        driver didn’t flee the scene, so obviously they cared.
        perhaps sisters aunts friends and kids should avoid being on social media if they cant handle whats being said

        • how am I suppose to know if she needed a ride ? I have my own family I’m just saying no need for rude comments. And I never said he fled .I no what’s going on.all I asked was no need for rudeness cuz everyone jay walked once in there life and would if it was your family u wouldn’t want people saying all these rude comments