Wayne Ventura feared the worst about his brother when he heard that a pedestrian had been struck by a car in Kalihi Valley.

Even before he arrived at The Queen's Medical Center, his fears were confirmed when he saw his brother's slippers in the crosswalk near Machado Street.

Russell Ventura, 61, died at the hospital after being struck by one car and run over by another at 6:06 a.m. during one of his daily walks.

When Ventura's relatives gather for a Thanksgiving meal today at the family's Laumaile Street home, there will be a setting at the table for him, his mother, Agnes Ventura, said.

"I would say thank you to him for the time he spent with us. He was a good son, never caused me any trouble," Agnes Ventura said of the second youngest of her eight children, only five of whom are now living.

Wayne Ventura, the youngest of the children, added, "The main thing is he's not suffering. He was quiet but funny, and I'm going to miss him."

Russell Ventura, a Farrington High graduate and retired inspector for American Steel, lived for 30 years in Alliance, Ohio, before returning home to Kalihi Valley in 1997. He enjoyed watching animal shows on television and taking walks, his family said.

He was not carrying identification yesterday during his morning walk.

Yesterday's death adds to an already record year of pedestrian deaths on O'ahu.

Wayne Ventura heard on the radio that an elderly pedestrian was critically injured and became worried at 6:30 a.m. when his brother didn't return home. He went to the accident scene, and based on the description of the victim from police, Ventura figured it was his brother.

"I knew when I saw the slippers," Wayne Ventura said. "The radio said the pedestrian was extremely critical, but I didn't know he was dead until I got to the hospital."

Agnes Ventura was asleep when her son went out for his walk yesterday.

"The last thing I said to him was 'good night, God bless you.'"

Russell Ventura's death was a shock to his neighbor, Julita Aggacid, whose 62-year-old brother, Cayetano Duran, was killed in a pedestrian accident in October. Duran was run over twice by a truck backing out onto Dillingham Boulevard.

"There's so much traffic now and it's so dangerous, even if you are just walking," Aggacid said.

Police said Ventura was crossing the street in the vicinity of a crosswalk about 6:06 a.m. when he was struck by a black 1999 Nissan Altima driven by a 45-year-old man.

Police said the driver of the Nissan, which was headed south on Kalihi Street approaching Machado Street, did not see Ventura.

Ventura fell to the ground and was then struck by a second vehicle, a 1986 Toyota pickup truck, which was behind the first vehicle. The truck was driven by a 56-year-old man.

Police do not believe speed, alcohol or drugs played any role in the accident. It was dark outside, and the road possibly was wet.

Acting Honolulu Fire Capt. Kevin Farm said his Engine 32 crew from the Kalihi Uka Fire Station arrived to find the victim lying under an older Toyota pickup truck.

"At first we thought the victim was pinned, but the truck had (a raised suspension) so there was plenty of clearance underneath," Farm said.

Firefighters removed him from under the truck before turning the matter over to city paramedics, who arrived moments later.

Russell Ventura is also survived by his wife, Linda; son, Michael; daughter, Darlene Sprinkels; grandson, Chaz, all of Ohio; sisters, Gwendolyn Pollack, Violet and Cynthia Ventura, and brother, Clarence Jr.

Services are pending.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.