CLEARLAKE – Police have identified an elderly Clearlake man who died late last month from his injuries after being struck by a car.

Lt. Mike Hermann of the Clearlake Police Department reported Thursday that the man is Nikolai Smirnow, 88.

As Lake County News previously reported, on Sept. 16 Smirnow stepped into the path of a vehicle while crossing Old Highway 53 at Hillcrest Avenue.

Police said the vehicle's driver, 55-year-old Toni Maier of Clearlake, could not have avoided the collision.

Smirnow was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he died Sept. 21 of his injuries, as Lake County News previously reported.

Hermann reported that an autopsy was conducted Sept. 24, with an official cause of death still pending.

Police believe, however, that Smirnow died as a direct result of the injuries he sustained in the collision, Hermann added.

Upon receipt of the autopsy report, the case will be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for review, which Hermann said is standard procedure.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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