A 16-year-old Righetti High School student was critically injured Thursday when she was struck by a vehicle in Orcutt.

At 7:40 a.m., emergency personnel responded to Union Valley Parkway at Hummel Drive after a vehicle struck a pedestrian crossing the street, California Highway Patrol Officer Maria Barriga said.

The girl, whose name wasn’t released, was walking northbound to school in the crosswalk when a 1996 Honda Accord driven by Abdu Rai Delgado Herrera, 31, of Orcutt hit the girl.

“Mr. Delgado Herrera, along with two other independent witnesses, reported that the sun’s glare severely impaired visibility at the intersection,” Barriga said. “Mr. Delgado Herrera related he was unable to see the young lady in the crosswalk prior to the crash.”

Following the incident, Delgado Herrera immediately rushed to assist the girl and remained with her until emergency medical services arrived on the scene, Barriga said.

The victim, a sophomore at Righetti High, had significant injuries and was taken to Marian Regional Medical Center.

She was later transported to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera for further treatment. 

The tragedy serves as a reminder for other drivers. 

“We urge all members of the community to exercise caution, especially during periods of limited visibility, and to prioritize safety at all times, particularly in school zones and pedestrian-heavy areas,” Barriga said. 

Alcohol and drugs were not factors in the incident, Barriga said.

Counseling services were made available at Righetti High after the incident, according to Kenny Klein, a spokesman for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family,” Klein added.

CHP officers are seeking the public’s help in locating witnesses who may have seen the crash from the westbound side of Union Valley Parkway at or near Hummel Drive.

Anyone with information regarding the crash can contact the CHP’s Santa Maria Area office by calling 805.608.6310.