A 30-year-old pedestrian was killed by a giant 60 mph big-rig truck Monday when he darted onto a major freeway in Lake Elsinore in the pre-dawn darkness, authorities said.
There was no word from authorities about why the dead pedestrian tried to make his deadly run across the freeway lanes.
The fatality happened just before 2 a.m. on southbound I-15, north of Main Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The pedestrian, a Lake Elsinore resident whose name was not immediately released, was walking along the shoulder of the freeway when he abruptly ran into traffic, going east as though trying to make it to the northbound side of I-15, the CHP reported.
Roy Pittman, 45, of San Bernardino was at the wheel of a tractor-trailer going southbound at roughly 60 mph and had virtually no time to swerve or stop before hitting the pedestrian, whose body was flung back onto the shoulder, according to the CHP.
Pittman was not injured and immediately stopped to call 911.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics 10 minutes later, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
There was no indication that law enforcement officials would take any action against Pittman.
–Staff and wire reports