The 65-year-old woman, whose name was not immediately released because authorities had not yet contacted all of her family, came out of her home in a cul de sac in the 9000 block of Madison Avenue and tried to get the trash truck driver's attention, Westminster police Detective Alan Aoki said.
"As she did that she stepped in front of the truck and ended up getting run over by the truck," Aoki said. "At this point it looks like a tragic accident."
The truck driver did not know he struck the woman, but when he heard a noise he stopped the vehicle, got out and then saw the injured woman, Aoki said.
The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but was later pronounced dead, Aoki said.
Orange County Fire Authority paramedics responded to the accident about 1:15 p.m., Capt. Marc Stone said.
City News Service contributed to this report.
