Man Hit By Car In Clayton Run Over By Officer Responding To Call

CLAYTON (AP) -- A Clayton police officer responding to a call ran over a man who had previously been hit by another motorist.

The East Bay Times reports that Concord police Lt. Nicholas Gartner says 29-year-old Robert Smith, of Walnut Creek, may have already been dead when the officer hit him with his patrol car on Monday.

The Contra Costa County Coroner's Office identified Smith on Monday but did not release a cause of death. It is unknown why Smith was on the road.

Police initially said the officer was the first to strike Smith with a vehicle but later said that was incorrect.

The civilian driver involved in the incident stayed at the scene and cooperated with police.

Gartner says drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the collision.