Woman killed in car accident near Crystal Cove

An Irvine woman died Wednesday after being struck by a passing car while walking along East Coast Highway near Crystal Cove.

The accident occurred about 7:10 p.m. as Frank A. Felipponio, 37, of Irvine, was heading south along the highway in his 2007 Mustang GT-500 convertible, Newport Beach police said.

Felipponio apparently was attempting to switch from second to third gear, but shifted into first gear by mistake, sending the car into a spin, Lt. Jim Kaminsky said.

The convertible left the highway, skidding into Lori Rae Jamieson, 48, who was walking on the bike path parallel to the road, Kaminsky said.

Felipponio and Jamieson were taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, where Jamieson died of extensive injuries, police said.

Felipponio was treated for minor injuries and released.

Investigators do not believe that drugs or alcohol played a part in the accident. Test results of a sample of Felipponio’s blood should be available in a couple of weeks, Kaminsky said.

Police did not arrest Felipponio and have not said if speeding was a factor in the crash, Kaminsky said. Police ask that witnesses call Det. Bill Beverly at (949) 644-3747.