Man killed walking on Highway 180 after attending quinceañera identified by coroner

A man struck by three vehicles and killed when walking on Highway 180 after attending a quinceañera in Kerman on Saturday night has been identified by the Fresno County coroner as Jamie Cruz, 39, of Woodlake.

Cruz was highly intoxicated and standing in the middle of the westbound lanes of Highway 180, east of Howard Avenue, when he was struck by a vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol. He was struck by two more vehicles and died after he was transported to Community Regional Medical Center.

It’s unknown why he was walking and ended up in the middle lane, the CHP said at the scene. He had walked about three miles from the party in Kerman.

“We don’t know why he ended up in the middle lane,” CHP Sgt. Dusten Dimmer said. “There were no other calls of a pedestrian. I don’t know if he was crossing the street.”

The drivers of the vehicles that struck Cruz remained on scene and cooperated with the CHP.