By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer

January 25 -- An out-of-order crosswalk may have turned deadly when a man was struck and killed while crossing Santa Monica Boulevard in the middle of the afternoon Wednesday.

At 3:10 p.m., the unidentified man, who is in his late sixties or early seventies, was in the middle of the crosswalk at Euclid Street when the westbound driver of a Jaguar -- also in his seventies -- hit and killed him on the scene.

"The man stopped and he is cooperating," said Lt. Alex Padilla, the police department spokesperson. "From initial reports, it appears that this was just inattention.

"The pedestrian was killed at the site," Padilla said.

Accident scene. (Photos by Olin Ericksen)

As of 6 p.m., police were still processing the scene, halting traffic for hours over several square blocks.

Yellow tags marking evidence littered the site. A single shoe could be seen nearly 25 feet from the vehicle.

The solar-powered crosswalk -- one of scores across the City that use flashing lights to alert oncoming drivers of pedestrians -- was not functioning at the time of the accident, Padilla said.

"Only three of 25 lights were working," he said.

A metal plate above the crosswalk button read, “Flashers Out of Service. Sorry.”

The "pedestrian-activated, in-pavement flasher" was one of five installed on Santa Monica Boulevard in 2000 to "provide increased visibility for the motorist, while still requiring the pedestrian to cross with care," according to a City staff report.

Ocean Park and Pico boulevards also have the same systems at select intersections.

At a time when the City is updating the circulation element of its general plan, municipal officials have heard complaints from several neighborhood groups about traffic safety, especially crosswalks that remain out of order.

Police do not believe alcohol or drugs played a part in the crash. Other details, such as how fast the motorist was driving, remain under investigation, Padilla said.

It has not been determined whether charges would be filed, he said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Chris Dawson at (310) 458-8954.