Update: Pedestrian killed on University Avenue identified

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A Provo pedestrian was reported dead this morning after being hit by a car south of BYU campus.

Provo Police identified the victim as Provo resident Rosa Merino, 42. The accident took place at 6:20 this morning on 700 N. University Avenue. Lieutenant Siufanua of the Provo Police said she was walking across the crosswalk on University on the south side of the road when a driver going southbound on University struck her.

People at the scene followed dispatch instructions in performing CPR but were not able to find a pulse in the victim, Siufanua said. When police and paramedics arrived on scene they were able to establish a pulse, but it was very weak. She was rushed to Utah Valley hospital, where she died soon after.

The name of the driver has not been released, but Siufanua described him as a 49-year-old man driving a 1987 GMC pick-up truck. He said the driver became distracted as he was going through the intersection of 700 North and University Avenue and didn’t see Merino crossing the road.

Siufanua said the driver was “very cooperative” about the incident and that he doesn’t know whether charges will be pressed.

Merino was a single mother with three daughters, ages 16, 14 and 12. According to the children, their mother was walking to work because the brakes on their car were not working.

The Provo Police department will be releasing donation information shortly, according to its Twitter page.

At least 10 police cars blocked University Avenue and the surrounding area after the accident this morning, causing some early student commuters to have to find a different route to school.

By 9 a.m. the road was cleared off and all lanes of traffic open.

According to the Police Facebook page, the Provo Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #23 has opened up an account at the Provo Wells Fargo Bank. The FOP will donate all proceeds to the three children of the victim.

If you would like to donate, please donate to “The Three Molina Girls” at any Wells Fargo Bank.

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