Pedestrian hit, killed west of Modesto

MODESTO -- The California Highway Patrol is investigating an accident that left a woman dead west of Modesto early Thursday.

According to CHP officer Brandon Moore, a woman was walking north on Dakota Avenue near Blue Gum Avenue at 5:40 a.m.

"For whatever reason, she ended up in the northbound traffic lane," Moore said.

A man driving a Ford Ranger in the same direction hit the woman, who was declared dead at the scene. The driver, whose name was not released, did not see the woman and could not stop in time, Moore said. It was dark, and there are no lights along that stretch of road. Investigators are trying to determine why the woman apparently walked into traffic.

"We need to talk to a few more witnesses," Moore said.

The accident marks the seventh fatality on area roads this week.