A Thousand Palms man was fatally struck by two vehicles in Thermal, and one of the drivers fled the scene and remains at large, the California Highway Patrol reported Monday.

Brandon Cooper, 30, was struck Sunday night while he was walking on the right shoulder of state Route 86, south of 84th Avenue, said CHP Officer Mike Radford. The driver fled the scene and has not been found, according to Radford, who said the type of vehicle the hit-and-run motorist was driving was unknown.

About 11:15 p.m., a vehicle driven by a 38-year-old Cathedral City woman hit Cooper as he was lying in the right lane of northbound state Route 86.

Cooper was pronounced dead at the scene, though it was unknown whether he was fatally injured by the initial driver or the second, who was uninjured and remained at the scene.

Radford said alcohol and/or drugs may have played a role in the collision, but did not elaborate.

The number 2 lane of the northbound 86 was closed to traffic in the area for the investigation until about 4 a.m. The area is near where Riverside County borders both San Diego and Imperial counties and near the Salton Sea.

Anyone with information regarding the crash was asked to contact the Indio CHP Office at (760) 772-5300 and ask for Officer Cotteen.

–City News Service

>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!