A woman fatally struck by a car on a La Jolla street was identified Wednesday as Melissa Ratcliff, the vice president of marketing for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Ratcliff, 45, had just gotten out of her vehicle when she was struck and pinned by another car in the 7700 block of Girard Avenue shortly before noon Tuesday, according to police and chamber officials.

Medics took her to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, where she was pronounced dead, San Diego police public affairs Officer Humberto Hernandez said.

Chamber of Commerce president and former San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders told 10News he hired Ratcliff himself. Six months into the job, he said she left quite an impression.

"This is a really tough day and really difficult for us today. We were lucky to have her, frankly," Sanders said.

While living in Washington, D.C, Melissa served in the White House as deputy communications director for then-Vice President Al Gore and as press secretary to Environmental Protection Agency chief Carol Browner, according to the chamber.

Ratcliff also led the communications office of the national Democratic Party for a time and served as spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee chairman.

Sanders added, "When we interviewed her, we said, 'You worked for the Clintons; you going to be able to work here?' And she said, 'I believe in jobs.'"

The La Jolla resident is survived by three children.

"The second we heard, we felt bad for her family. She was such a dedicated mother; frequently had one, two or three kids here at work," Sanders said.

Sanders described Ratcliff as a sparkplug and a driven woman who wasn't afraid to speak up.

"She had an edge to her that we all loved," he said.

10News learned the car that struck Ratcliff was driven by a 91-year-old woman who could possibly face vehicular manslaughter charges.

The case has been forwarded to the City Attorney's Office for review.