Police investigating after 82-year-old struck and killed by vehicle in Merced

Authorities are investigating after an 82-year-old man was struck and killed by a vehicle in Merced on Monday.

At about 8:18 p.m., officers responded to a reported vehicle versus pedestrian collision in the 2300 block of East Olive Avenue, east of McKee Road, according to Merced Police Sgt. Nathan McKinnon.

The pedestrian was transported to a trauma center where he was later pronounced dead, according to McKinnon.

Authorities said it appears the man was leaving a friend’s house and walking across the roadway to his vehicle when he was struck by a 2020 Toyota Camry driven by a 38-year-old Merced woman.

“He was simply crossing the road to get to his car,” said McKinnon.

Authorities said the Toyota was traveling east on East Olive Avenue and had just crossed through the intersection of East Olive Avenue and McKee Road when the collision occurred. According to McKinnon, it is believed the driver was traveling under the posted speed limit and still accelerating at the time of the collision.

McKinnon said the collision occurred during dark conditions on a section of roadway with minimal lighting. The driver of the vehicle was not injured in the collision and a juvenile passenger suffered minor injuries.

The driver of the Toyota remained on scene and was fully cooperative with investigators, police said.

According to police, neither drugs, alcohol nor speed appear to be a factor in the collision which remains under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding the collision is asked to contact Officer Calcango at 209-388-7718 or by email at calcagnom@cityofmerced.org.