Pedestrian struck and killed on Highway 99 near Chowchilla, CHP says

A pedestrian is dead following a collision along Highway 99 near Highway 152 in Madera County, according to authorities.

At about 2:40 a.m Wednesday, California Highway Patrol officers responded to the area of southbound Highway 99 just south of Highway 152 for a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle, according to Madera area CHP Officer Javier Ruvalcaba.

Officers arrived on scene and found an adult male on the west shoulder of the highway. Authorities said it appears the man ran into the roadway and was struck by a big rig.

The big rig was traveling south along Highway 99 in the No. 2 lane when the pedestrian ran in front of the vehicle and the driver was unable to avoid the pedestrian, according to the CHP.

The collision caused the pedestrian to be thrown to the west shoulder of southbound Highway 99, according to Ruvalcaba. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the big rig cooperated with authorities and neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be a factor.

Ruvalcaba said that just after 2 a.m., authorities received multiple reports of a pedestrian running in and out of traffic attempting to be struck by vehicles in the area of southbound Highway 99 and Avenue 18 1/2, as well as the area of southbound Highway 99 and Avenue 21 1/2.

Officers responded and were unable to locate the pedestrian. A short time later the collision occurred north of the locations.

According to Ruvalcaba, the collision remains under investigation, and may be a possible suicide.