Community prayer gathering Tuesday in Poulsbo

The Revs. Kent and Alison Shane of First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo will lead a community service of remembrance and comfort at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, at the church, at 18920 Fourth Ave.

All are invited.

Last week, a woman was killed in the church parking lot after a vehicle hit her. Both the driver and the woman were quilters at the church. A number of other tragic events have occurred recently in Kitsap County, including a spate of high-profile homicides and the shooting of a third-grader, who is recovering.

Below is the story about the car-pedestrian collision at First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo from the Kitsap Sun, reprinted with permission:

By Kitsap Sun staff

POULSBO — A Port Ludlow woman was killed Tuesday night after she was hit by a car in the parking lot of First Lutheran Church on Fourth Avenue.

The Kitsap County coroner has identified the woman as 64-year-old Cheryl L. Penttila.

Poulsbo police were called at 6:20 p.m. about a woman who was hit by a car that was pulling into a handicapped parking spot in the church lot, according to Deputy Chief Wendy Davis. The church is on the 18000 block of Fourth Avenue.

Initial information suggests the woman driving the car, an 82-year-old from Poulsbo, did not see Penttila and ran over her. It's uncertain whether Penttila was hit by the car and fell to the ground or she was already on the ground when the woman was pulling into the parking space, Davis said.

Penttila died at the scene.

The two women were at the church for a quilting club meeting and knew each other, Davis said. Police do not believe drugs or alcohol played a part in the incident. Bad weather and poor lighting might have been an issue, Davis said.

The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office and Suquamish police assisted in the investigation. An autopsy was conducted Thursday.