Two vehicles struck the same man on the street. Fresno Police learned it was not a hit-and-run

A man was hit by two vehicles and died at the scene Thursday night in east-central Fresno.

The incident happened around 6:40 p.m. on Dakota Avenue just east of Cedar Avenue.

Fresno Police said the man was trying to cross Dakota — without using a crosswalk — when a vehicle hit him. Rainfall was light at the time but roads were slick nonetheless.

Soon after, another vehicle hit the man.

By the time police arrived, it was clear to the officers that the man had suffered major injuries and was dead at the scene, according to Lt. Paul Cervantes.

The identity and age of the victim were not immediately known, though police said the man was “older.”

Police initially received information that the collision was a hit-and-run.

But officers later learned that the driver of the first vehicle that hit the man stayed at the scene, and the person driving the second vehicle that struck the pedestrian briefly left the scene but made a U-turn to come back.

“At this point, it appears that the pedestrian is at fault for the accident,” Cervantes said. “The pedestrian appeared to be walking on the north side of Dakota Avenue on the shoulder. And at some point, (he) decided to cross the street.

“The pedestrian did not, however, cross the street in any location where a sidewalk had been located. Unfortunately and tragically, the individual has succumb to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.”

This story was originally published December 23, 2021 at 8:37 PM.