UPDATE: A 53-year-old woman was killed Tuesday morning when she was hit by a car outside the San Diego Convention Center while lining up for the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2 Comic-Con panel taking place Thursday, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Comic-Con fans said the woman, who was with a group, had been in line since Sunday for the Twilight panel. They said the convention center staff was about to switch the line, so the beginning became the end, and that the pedestrian was running to keeping her place in line,” the paper reports.
The Union-Tribune also noted that the driver was a 67-year-old San Diego man who, after the accident, stopped and was interviewed by officers.
Summit and parent company Lionsgate released the following statement regarding the incident: “Lionsgate, Summit and the entire Twilight community are saddened by the death of a Comic-Con fan today due to a traffic accident during the hours leading up to this year’s convention in San Diego. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the victim’s family and friends. She will be respectfully remembered this Thursday in Hall H.”
Comic-Con organizers also expressed their condolences. “While we have not received an official briefing from the San Diego Police Department, it is our understanding that an individual was fatally injured while crossing Harbor Drive in Downtown San Diego. It is with tremendous sadness that we offer our heartfelt condolences. Our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved in this tragic incident,” Comic-Con spokesperson David Glanzer, said in an e-mail.
On Twitter this afternoon, the phrases #FandomisFamily and #RIPTwiFanG were trending, as Twilight fans joined together to honor the woman who died. Her name has not publicly been released, but Tweets are referring to her as “Gisela.”
EW spoke to the San Diego police department, where spokesperson Lt. Andra Brown confirmed that they got a call that the accident took place at 9:22 a.m. PT Tuesday, and the victim was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9:51 a.m. PT. She said the driver of the vehicle was fully cooperative with the officers on the scene.
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