A routine Tuesday morning in South Laguna turned deadly when a woman was struck and killed in the parking lot of a 7‑Eleven, according to Laguna Beach police. Officers were called to the scene at about 10:22 a.m., and emergency crews rushed the pedestrian to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where she later died. The Laguna Beach Police Department has opened a traffic‑pedestrian investigation and is urging anyone who saw what happened to come forward.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the collision happened outside the 7‑Eleven at 31702 Coast Highway, at the northwest corner of 3rd Avenue, and involved vehicles operated by two service providers, CR&R Trash Services and Belshire Environmental Services. The paper reported that the woman’s identity was being withheld until relatives could be notified and that officers were still piecing together the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Investigation and witness appeal
The Laguna Beach Police Department’s traffic bureau is leading the investigation and plans to review surveillance footage, vehicle movements and eyewitness statements to determine how the incident unfolded. Police asked anyone who witnessed the collision to contact Cpl. James Michaud of the traffic bureau at (949) 497‑0701. Officials have not yet said whether any charges might be filed.
Coast Highway safety concerns
Coast Highway has seen fatal pedestrian crashes before, and city leaders have previously pressed state officials to consider safety improvements because the roadway is controlled by Caltrans, according to the City of Laguna Beach. That split in responsibility between the city and the state has complicated efforts to add crosswalks, signals or other traffic‑calming measures in parts of South Laguna.
Companies named by police
Police said the crash involved vehicles from CR&R and Belshire. CR&R Environmental Services lists Laguna Beach among its Southern California service areas, and Belshire is registered as an Orange County environmental services firm in public directories. Both companies provide waste and environmental services to businesses around the region, and neither had issued a public statement about the collision as of Tuesday evening…