On-duty Merced deputy hits, kills pedestrian on Lander Avenue

An on-duty Merced County Sheriff’s deputy driving his patrol vehicle struck and killed a 51-year-old man who was walking along Lander Avenue near 3rd Street on Thursday night.

According to a California Highway Patrol news release, the man was walking in the southbound lane of Lander Avenue at about 8 p.m. The deputy was driving in the same direction.

The pedestrian was wearing dark clothing and there was a light rain at the time of the incident, the news release said.

The pedestrian, a resident of Hilmar, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The identity of the pedestrian is pending notification to the next of kin and the investigation into the collision is under way.

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 7:37 AM with the headline "On-duty Merced deputy hits, kills pedestrian on Lander Avenue."