Man dies after struck by vehicle

A 27-year-old man died Wednesday night after he was struck by a vehicle on Highway 65 near Pioneer Avenue.

The Porterville Police Department said witnesses told them the man was walking eastbound across the four-lane, divided highway at Pioneer Avenue at about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday when he was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound on the highway.

Police received numerous calls of the man down as traffic was heavy at that time. Highway 65 northbound was closed at Pioneer and all traffic was diverted onto that small residential street.

According to police, crossing the highway is illegal and police said the driver of the vehicle that struck the man, as well as other drivers, stopped to give aid before emergency personnel arrived.

The man was taken by ambulance to Sierra View District Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The names of the parties involved have not been released pending notification of family.  Neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to be a factor.

For more on the story see Friday's Porterville Recorder.