Northbound traffic on Highway 99 was halted Tuesday night while the California Highway Patrol investigated a collision that killed 25-year-old Manuel Flores of Fresno, according to the coroner.
CHP officers were alerted to the man around 10:30 p.m. He was reportedly just south of Clinton Avenue walking in the highway’s slow lane.
Before officers could find and assist the man, he was struck by a semi-truck and trailer, according to a news release from the CHP.
Despite emergency efforts from officers and medical personnel, Flores died.
The CHP confirmed the driver of the truck was a 21-year old man, but gave no further information.
All three lanes of northbound lanes were temporarily closed for an on-scene investigation. It is unclear whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in the death. Toxicology results are pending from Fresno County Coroner’s Office, the CHP said.
More pedestrian deaths in Fresno
This isn’t the first pedestrian death reported this month and just one of nearly a half-dozen reported in The Fresno Bee since September.
Whallen Johnson was killed Nov. 6 at Herndon and Polk avenues. According to police, witnesses said the 34-year old has been walking in the road and was not paying attention to traffic.
In late October, 55-year Tina Taylor, was killed while crossing Clovis Avenue, just south of Griffith Way.
This followed the deaths of 24-year old Yeraldin Pascual and 15-year old Nathan Torres, who were struck and killed on the same night in late September.