BREAKING NEWS

An Irvine woman died Wednesday after being struck by a passing car while walking along Pacific Coast Highway near Crystal Cove.

The accident occurred at about 7:10 p.m. as Frank A. Felipponio, 37, of Irvine, was heading south along the highway in his 2007 Mustang GT-500 convertible, Newport Beach police said. Felipponio apparently was attempting to switch from second to third gear, but shifted into first gear by mistake, sending the car into a spin, Lt. Jim Kaminsky said. The convertible left the highway, skidding into Lori Rae Jamieson, 48, who was walking on the bike path parallel to the road, Kaminsky said.

Felipponio and Jamieson were taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, where Jamieson died from extensive injuries, police said. Felipponio was treated for minor injuries and released.

Investigators do not believe that drugs or alcohol played a part in the accident. They did however take a blood sample, and the tests on that should be finished in a couple of weeks, Kaminsky said.

Police did not arrest Felipponio, and have not commented if speeding was a factor in the crash, Kaminsky said. Witnesses to the collision are encouraged to call Det. Bill Beverly at (949) 644-3747.