Homeless man profiled in Coastline Pilot dies after struck by car

A well-known homeless man succumbed to his injuries after he was hit by an SUV in Laguna Beach last week.

Regan Philip Hess, 48, was in a crosswalk at Mountain Street and South Coast Highway at 10:29 p.m. May 21 when he was struck by a Chevrolet Trailblazer, Sgt. Louise Callus wrote in an email. Hess suffered major head trauma in the crash.

Hess, who was a longtime fixture on the city’s streets, was taken off life support at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo Saturday night, Callus wrote.

The Coastline Pilot featured Hess in a January column by David Hansen about the homeless population in Laguna Beach.

The 21-year-old Laguna Beach man who was driving the Trailblazer was not cited or arrested. Police said he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Police will not release the driver’s name until the investigation is complete, Callus wrote.

— Hannah Fry and Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @CoastlinePilot