Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that claimed the life of 79-year-old Ginny Shields after a Tesla reportedly left a parking lot and crashed into an Urbane Cafe in Simi Valley on Monday afternoon.
According to investigators, the incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. near Tierra Rejada and Madera roads. A Tesla driven by a 65-year-old Thousand Oaks resident was traveling north through the parking lot when it crossed both traffic lanes, jumped the curb, struck Shields on the sidewalk, and continued into the café.
Shields, an Agoura Hills resident, died at the scene from injuries sustained in the collision.
The Tesla driver and a passenger were taken to a nearby hospital with moderate to minor injuries.
Friends and family described Shields as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was also a former interior designer and artist who volunteered at the Getty Villa Malibu, where she shared her appreciation for art and history.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by local authorities.