A pedestrian was involved in a deadly incident last week on Route 51 in Pennsylvania. According to police the 50-year-old man was trying to cross the road when he was hit by a car. After the fatal accident, the vehicles involved left the scene.

The first vehicle that reportedly hit him was a white van. He apparently hit the first vehicle fairly hard as the passenger-side mirror was stripped from the van. The second was a much smaller car that appeared to be dark in color. When the vehicles left the scene, both seemed to be heading toward Pittsburgh, still on Route 51. Law enforcement is currently searching for both vehicles.

After the accident the man was taken to Mercy hospital. It was there that he was declared dead.

Pedestrians on a road are much more vulnerable than other vehicles when it comes to being hit by a car. This is for many reasons. First, in many cases it is likely that motorists are not expecting to see a pedestrian on the road. Also, they are much smaller than a car which makes them easier to not notice.

This is not the first time that a pedestrian has been injured on this stretch of road. The Baldwin Police Chief indicated that the department had reached out to PennDOT at an earlier time to try to determine what steps could be taken to make safer for those on foot.

At the time the man was hit, it was dark outside and he was wearing dark clothing that may have made it difficult to see him. Nonetheless, the vehicles that hit him should have followed the law and stopped.

Source: KDKA, "Police Searching For 2 Vehicles After Deadly Hit & Run," March 9, 2012