A 67-year-old grandmother who was struck in a North Main Street pedestrian crosswalk last week has died from her injuries.
The woman was walking with her 8-year-old grandson across the street shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 22 after leaving the Burger King fast food restaurant in the 700 block of North Main when she flipped over a black BMW sedan driven by a 16-year-old unlicensed. She was thrown to the pavement.
Witnesses covered her with a blanket until first responders arrived to render aid to the injured grandmother. She was taken to a trauma center by ambulance where she was kept on life support for about a week.
Manteca has had its share of pedestrian fatalities in recent years. One was a senior citizen returning from grocery shopping in the 200 block of east Center Street when the sun was reportedly blinding a westbound driver who struck the man.  The sun also played a part in the death of a grandfather pushing his young grandson in a stroller across Woodward Avenue who was struck by a westbound vehicle and killed. Mikey Thomson, son of retired Sierra High Baseball coach Jack Thomson,  was killed at the corner of Alameda and North Main streets a number of years ago sitting on his bicycle waiting to cross Main Street from the sidewalk.
Police have warned the public about wearing dark clothing during the night hours and for not having lights on their bicycles when they get out into the traffic lanes.  It has become a common danger to see homeless individuals on bicycles on Manteca’s roadways.
Manteca Police were unclear as to whether charges would be filed in the North Main Street incident – awaiting the findings of the official police reports and a final analysis.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.