A family in mourning is remembering a son and brother who died from his injuries days after he was struck by a vehicle earlier this month in Lompoc, with his father calling it “just surreal.”

Cory Smith, 41, of Lompoc was hit from behind by a vehicle while in the 600 block of North H Street after sunset on Oct. 20.

Smith’s father, Terry, said he arrived at his son’s bedside at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital two days later, noting the various machines set up to save his son’s life as he remained in a medically induced coma.

“I’ll tell you what, as a dad, it was very heartwarming to see the effort they put in caring for him and getting the best for him,” Terry Smith said.

Cory Smith was not in a crosswalk when he was struck, Sgt. Scott Morgan of the Lompoc Police Department said. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident. 

It is one of at least three recent incidents in which pedestrians were struck by vehicles in Lompoc, with one child not injured and a 96-year-old man killed Monday.

Along with a head injury, Cory Smith had a broken right hip, a broken right leg, a fractured orbital socket and other traumatic injuries. 

However, the patient’s identity initially remained a mystery — his wallet and cellphone had been stolen at some point before he was struck, according to his dad. 

Lompoc police officers recognized Cory Smith but couldn’t confirm his identity, so they worked with a social worker, who contacted a friend of the injured man, Terry Smith said. That friend reached out to Cory Smith’s family on social media.

A doctor initially told Terry Smith that the medical staff wouldn’t know a prognosis for a day or two. However, that afternoon, Cory Smith died as his lungs ultimately failed.

His dad said he was grateful for the Lompoc police officers’ and the social worker’s efforts to confirm Cory Smith’s identify so the family could be notified of the tragedy. 

“At least I was able to be there and his girlfriend was able to be there when he passed away so he had loved ones around him,” Terry Smith said, noting that the family could have found out after the fact or not at all. 

Cory Smith grew up in Lompoc and was remembered as being an enthusiastic child who struggled after his parents divorced when he was 9 years old.

The oldest of three children, he began battling addictions and ended up living in the riverbed on and off over the years. 

“His war is finally over. He’s at peace, and as a dad, I’m not shocked. I’m just stunned. You never know what’s going to happen,” Terry Smith said.

Periodically, Cory Smith would stop by his father’s home for a shower and clean clothes, but he ultimately returned to the streets.

“He definitely loved his family,” Terry Smith said.

A young Cory Smith enjoyed riding off-road vehicles and dancing at a wedding reception like he was Michael Jackson — “just having a blast,” his dad said.

The father and two siblings are reflecting on the Cory Smith they knew. 

“My daughter said it best — she said, he always did what he wanted to do, whether it was healthy or smart or beneficial to us, or whatever. I guess he lived life his way.” 

The father started a GoFundMe page, Cory’s Cremation and Burial Fund, to help cover the costs of cremation and other memorial expenses, collecting more than $2,700 — a community response appreciated by the family.

“Our hearts were warmed by everybody’s response,” Terry Smith said, expressing appreciation for Cottage staff and Lompoc Police Chaplain Bernie Federmann.

Arrangements are under the care of the Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.