Man Hit & Killed By Truck Along Ohio River Boulevard

AVALON (KDKA) - Police were called to the scene of a deadly situation in Avalon early Friday morning.

According to police, a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle in the 900 block of Ohio River Boulevard around 3 a.m.

When police arrived, the man was lying in middle of the road, unconscious and not breathing. Police Chief Thomas Kokoski said a woman tried doing chest compressions on the victim, but was unable to revive him. The man, who is presumed homeless, was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released.

"I don't know if she witnessed the accident or whatever, but she was on scene giving chest compressions," Avalon Police Chief Tom Kokoski said.

Despite there being sidewalks in the area, witnesses told police the man was walking in the northbound passing lane right before he was hit. Police have not been able to identify the victim. He weighed around 200 pounds, was six feet tall, and had cropped hair and a goatee beard. A tattoo was present on the upper left chest, possibly representing a lock and key in the shape of a heart.

The driver of the truck did stop at the scene.

Allegheny County Police do not suspect that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash. As per normal procedure, he was taken to the hospital to have his blood tested.

"I've been around here 18 years," said Avalon Police Chief Thomas Kokoski. "It's historically a dangerous stretch of road. It's unfortunate, it's a horrific event here. I consider it a dangerous stretch of road."

Deserae Kelly, who works close to where the accident happened, walks along the road every day. She agrees the road is dangerous.

"I'm trying to like navigate over here through the cars and all that it's like very dangerous trying to get to lunch and get back and you only have a few minutes, so it's like scared for your life almost," Kelly said.

Ohio River Boulevard was closed at Elizabeth Street for around two hours.

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