Pedestrian killed south of Visalia was from Porterville, coroner says

The person who was hit by a car and died south of Visalia this week has been identified as Heriberto Soto, 41, of Porterville, the Tulare County Coroner’s Office said Thursday.

Lucila Mendez, 45, was driving a 2008 Toyota Corolla north on Road 140, also known as Lovers Lane, near Avenue 272 shortly before 6 p.m. Monday when Soto walked from an orchard onto the road and into the path of her car, the California Highway Patrol said.

Mendez was unable to avoid Soto, who died at the scene. Neither Mendez nor her two passengers were injured.

Official sources originally reported the victim as being a female from Lindsay.

It is unknown why Soto stepped into the roadway, or if he was impaired by drugs or alcohol, the CHP said.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 5:05 PM with the headline "Pedestrian killed south of Visalia was from Porterville, coroner says."