Name Of Man Hit And Killed By Sac Police Officer Released

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The name of a man hit and killed while walking on the Capital City Freeway on Wednesday morning by a Sacramento Police officer has been released.

The victim is 29-year-old Richard Hicks of Elk Grove, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP officers investigating the fatal accident say Hicks was driving a black 1998 Ford Mustang in the northbound lanes of the freeway when he lost control of his car near El Camino Avenue.

The Mustang spun counter-clockwise numerous times in the traffic lanes and then flew off the roadway onto the right shoulder hitting a fence.

Hicks then got out of his car and walked back onto the highway where he was hit by an unmarked Blue 2005 Crown Victoria, driven by an on-duty Sacramento Police officer in the number two lane.

The CHP says the officer attempted to avoid Hicks by swerving to the right, but Hicks reportedly moved into the car's path. The CHP says the SWAT vehicle didn't have its police lights on and was driving about 65 mph.

A relative of Hicks tells CBS13's Nick Janes he believes his cousin was doing donuts in his car on the freeway and was walking into the lanes to take pictures of the tire marks. A smashed cell phone was recovered at the scene.

CHP investigators cannot confirm that report.

"It does look like he lost control," Officer Michael Waggoner said. "Whether or not those doughnut skid marks were related to that is being investigated. We'll certainly consider it."

Officers are also looking into whether drugs and/or alcohol played a factor in the accident.

The Sacramento Police officer was not hurt.