Man crossing Highway 180 on foot killed by driver. He was fleeing deputies

A man who was killed crossing Highway 180 near Clovis Avenue late Monday night was fleeing sheriff’s deputies, authorities reported.

He was identified as Eliodoro Arellano, 37, a homeless Fresno man, according to Fresno County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Botti.

Arellano was one of three people who were disassembling an SUV near Minnewawa and Turner avenues when a deputy arrived. Arellano fled through a hole in the fence leading to the freeway.

The California Highway Patrol said as Arellano attempted to run north across 180, a 23-year-old woman was driving east on the freeway in a Nissan Sentra and struck Arellano, who died at the scene.

Eastbound Highway 180 was closed for about one hour as part of the investigation. The two other people detained by deputies were released.

This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 5:56 AM.