Update: Man struck and killed by vehicle after his big rig breaks down on Highway 99

A 66-year-old truck driver from Stockton was killed after he stepped out of his broken-down tractor trailer and was struck by a vehicle on Highway 99 north of Salida on Friday afternoon.

Officers were called to the scene on northbound 99 north of Kiernan Avenue at 12:25 p.m. on a report of a vehicle collision, according to Tom Olsen, spokesman for the California Highway Patrol.

When they arrived, they found the truck driver on the ground on the east shoulder of the road. He was taken to Modesto’s Doctors Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

According to Olsen, the truck driver pulled over to the side of the road after a mechanical failure to his big rig. He stepped out of the vehicle, and stood to the left of it.

At that point, Donald Johnson, 62, of Visalia, was driving north when he saw the truck driver. For an unknown reason, he lost control of the 2000 Chevrolet he was driving, veered to the right and struck the truck driver.

The name of the truck driver has not been released pending notification of family.

Drugs or alcohol do not appear to have played a role in the collision.

The CHP reminds drivers, if possible, to exit the freeway when they experience a malfunction with their vehicle.

This story was originally published August 18, 2017 at 2:28 PM with the headline "Update: Man struck and killed by vehicle after his big rig breaks down on Highway 99."