82-year-old killed crossing major Merced street ID’d. He had just left friend’s home

The Merced County Sheriff Coroner’s Office has identified the man struck and killed by a vehicle in Merced on May 1 as 82-year-old Richard Burton of Merced, according to Deputy Alexandra Britton.

Merced police officers responded to the collision at about 8:18 p.m. in the 2300 block of East Olive Avenue. According to authorities, Burton is believed to have left a friend’s home and was walking across the roadway to his vehicle when he was struck by a sedan driven by a Merced woman.

Burton was transported to an area trauma center and later pronounced dead.

The driver of the vehicle remained on scene and cooperated with authorities. Police said the collision occurred during dark conditions on a stretch of roadway with minimal lighting.