Pedestrian, 85, fatally struck in Long Beach

An 85-year-old woman was struck by a sport utility vehicle and killed as she attempted to cross a major road in Long Beach Tuesday afternoon, Long Beach police said.

Sylvia Zucker, a Long Beach resident, was crossing East Park Avenue northbound from the center mall parking area, when she was struck, Long Beach Sgt. Eric Cregeen said.

The driver, identified only as a 21-year-old man, was not charged, Cregeen said.

Zucker was not in a marked crosswalk when the accident occurred, and the driver, in a Ford Explorer, "locked up the brakes" when he saw Zucker step into the left-hand lane of traffic -- but said the vehicle skidded on the wet pavement, striking the woman. "The driver did all he could," Cregeen said.

The crash occurred just after 1 p.m., police said.