Truck driver killed by car after trying to cross five lanes of traffic on foot

Police in Redmond, Oregon, are investigating a passenger vehicle versus pedestrian crash that claimed the life of a semi truck driver on Monday night.

The incident occurred at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 19, 2022, on southbound Highway 97, just north of the SW Yew Ave exit (mile marker 124), in Redmond, according to the Redmond Police Department.

Police say that the driver of a semi truck stopped on the shoulder of northbound Highway 97, and, “for unknown reasons,” attempted to cross five lanes of traffic on foot.

The truck driver was struck by a passenger vehicle in the right lane of southbound traffic.

First responders made attempts to save the life of the truck driver, but they were not successful.

“At that location, there are no crosswalks, the area is not well-illuminated, and the posted speed limit is 50 m.p.h.,” police said.

Police say that the vehicle and driver that struck the pedestrian remained on the scene and cooperated with the investigation.

The Oregon Department of Transportation Incident Response, Oregon State Police, and the Bend Police Department assisted with the investigation.