TILDEN TWP., Pa. – A 35-year-old man was killed in a pedestrian accident that occurred along Interstate 78 in northern Berks County Friday night.
It happened just before 10:30 p.m. on April 17, in the eastbound lanes in Tilden Township.
Officials identified the victim as Michael Grant Gerhart of Brooklyn, New York, and formerly of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.
According to Pennsylvania State Police officials, Gerhart had been traveling westbound on I-78 when he exited his vehicle for unknown reasons and attempted to cross the highway. While crossing the eastbound lanes, he was struck by an SUV.
Investigators say he was thrown a short distance by the impact and came to rest on the shoulder. Gerhart was pronounced dead at the scene.
The eastbound lanes of I-78 were closed for approximately three hours for accident investigation and cleanup.
Gerhart’s cause of death is blunt force trauma, and the manner of death will be determined pending completion of the investigation.