Car hits, kills nurse at Oakland hospital

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - A Bay Area family and colleagues at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland are grieving the loss of a longtime nurse who died after being hit by a car.

66-year old Patty Alvarez was working the “graveyard shift” at Children’s Hospital on Wednesday night, just before Thanksgiving. Her daughter, Stephanie, told KTVU Alvarez forgot her stethoscope and went to get it out of her car in the parking garage.

When Alvarez was in the crosswalk of 52nd Street, a driver who apparently overshot the parking garage entrance reversed his car at a high rate of speed, hitting Alvarez. Both the 44-year old driver and Alvarez were taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland.

Oakland Police arrested the driver on suspicion of driving under the influence, but he could face other charges. That’s because Alvarez’s family took her off life-support Sunday night.

Her daughter told KTVU she passed away shortly after 7  p.m. Sunday.

“It’s been really hard,” she told KTVU.

Alvarez worked at Children’s Hospital for 35 years. She was set to retire in March.

Her family said it was all Alvarez could think about. Alvarez had much to look forward to in her retirement.

Her newest granddaughter, Nora, was born Wednesday afternoon, less than 12 hours before the driver hit Alvarez in the crosswalk at work. Alvarez’s daughter said she only got the chance to meet her new grandchild via picture text on her phone.

Children’s Hospital Director of Emergency and Trauma Services Stacey Hanover said Alvarez colleagues worked hard to save her life in the ER of her own hospital.

"They acted valiantly and professionally," said Hanover. "They're phenomenal people as well."

Hanover said that Alvarez would be remembered for the kind of nurse she was.

"People looked up to her and counted on her," Hanover said. "Her compassion and her ability to care for people was as if they were her own."

Patty Alvarez left behind two daughters, three grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.