Tourist Killed on Vacation in Santa Monica Identified

This story was originally published at 5:52 p.m. Aug. 22, 2012. See note below. 

A 50-year-old Australian man visiting Santa Monica with his wife and young daughter has died in a local trauma center after being struck earlier this week by an alleged drunken driver, authorities reported.

The man was identified Friday as Gary Robert Mara, according to Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Mara was hit Monday night while crossing Colorado Avenue against a solid red "don't walk" sign. He was with his family, including his 8-year-old daughter, who was also hit in by the driver and suffered minor injuries, said Santa Monica Police Department spokesman Sgt. Richard Lewis.

Police arrested the driver, Cara Cameron, 26, of Westchester, on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and drunken driving. She was booked on $100,000 bail.

The crash was reported at 8:20 p.m. in the 300 block of Colorado Avenue. Cameron was driving eastbound on Colorado from Second Street on a green light, when the family entered the crosswalk against a solid "don't walk sign," Lewis said.

Cameron "was unable to avoid the pedestrians and struck two of the family members," he said.

She is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 21 in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Mara succumbed to his injuries early Wednesday morning, police said.

Updated at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012 with the location of the crash. Republished 10:09 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, 2012 with the name of the victim.

— City News Service contributed to this report.

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