82-YEAR-OLD CROSSING STREET HIT BY CAR, KILLED.

Byline: Gloria Gonzales Daily News Staff Writer

An 82-year-old woman was killed Wednesday evening when she stepped in front of car while crossing a busy street, police said.

Investigators believe that Assunta Defabiis was on her way home from the grocery store shortly after 6 p.m. when she crossed the westbound lanes of East Wilbur Road, just east of Laurie Lane.

The tragic incident illustrates the need for caution while crossing any street after dark, said Deputy John Popp, a traffic investigator with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

``People need to remember that even though it may be early and the street has street lights, headlights can blind oncoming motorists, and make it difficult for them to see pedestrians or bicyclists,'' Popp said. ``If you cross at intersections - even if there is just a crosswalk - drivers are more likely looking for pedestrians.''

Police said that Defabiis may have then paused in the left-turn lane before stepping in front of an eastbound car driven by Robert Feller, also of Thousand Oaks.

Feller's car hit Defabiis and he immediately pulled over and called for help, officials said. Defabiis was transported to Los Robles Hospital/Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Police said Thursday that Feller was driving within the speed limit, and no alcohol was involved in the incident.

``It appears as if she walked into the middle of the road. . . . She was wearing dark clothes and was likely silhouetted by headlights,'' Popp said.

Family members described Defabiis as an active and healthy woman who lived independently in an apartment complex on East Wilbur Road, said Deputy County Coroner James Baroni. Defabiis is survived by a son, two daughters and 10 grandchildren.