Woman, 76, struck while crossing street

An elderly woman suffered severe head injuries and is in critical condition after she was hit by a car Wednesday morning as she crossed the street against a green light, authorities said.

The woman, whom police declined to identify, is a 76-year-old volunteer at the Fairview Developmental Center. Costa Mesa traffic officers said she was crossing the street next to the center, at Harbor Boulevard and Fair Drive, against green light at about 7:15 a.m. when a car southbound on Harbor Boulevard hit her, Sgt. Victor Bakkila said.

She was walking across Fair Drive toward the center when a four-door sedan in the middle lane hit her, police said. Fire officials said she suffered a serious head wound.

The driver in the left lane stopped and skid marks show the man who hit her tried to stop too, Bakkila said.

“He was on a green light, he saw her but it was too late,” Bakkila said.

“If could have been a lot worse; he could have killed her” if he didn’t try to stop, he said.

The driver was cited for not having a license, police said.

The woman was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana and is in critical condition, fire officials said.

The woman works as a foster grandparent for two people at the center five days a week, reading, singing and spending the day outside with them, employees at the center said.

She’s volunteered at the center for five years and is very well liked, said Sandy Gonzales, an employee there.

“She is very dependable and very caring,” she said.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.