An unidentified adult male was struck and killed by a car on the eastbound I-10 service road at about 10:20 p.m. on Thursday night, July 23, 2020. According to Vidor Police Chief Rod Carroll, Vidor Police detectives are still awaiting for fingerprint information from the Jefferson County Morgue where the victim’s remains were transferred during the Vidor Police Department crash investigation.
Chief Carroll said that the driver of the car that hit the pedestrian did stop to render aid as required by law and that the driver is working with the Vidor Police in their investigation into the fatality collision.
Chief Carroll said that the crash between the pedestrian and the vehicle occurred on the eastbound I-10 service road between the Bonner Road/Dewitt Rd. exit ramp and the Church Street freeway underpass.
“The driver had just exited the freeway at the time of the collision,” said Chief Carroll. “The gentleman that was struck was actually between the two lanes of the service road there. It appears that he may have been walking in the lane of traffic because, the driver was still in the inside (left) lane of the service road from getting off the freeway when the impact occurred. So it appears the victim wasn’t walking alongside the pavement, he must have been in the middle of the road.”
The Police Chief, who responded to the collision scene, said that at that time of night, (10:20 p.m.), the freeway service road just west of the Church Street underpass is very dark as there are no street or business lights nearby. Chief Carroll also reported that the victim was wearing a dark t-shirt and dark blue jeans as he was walking.
Chief Carroll said that once the Jefferson County Morgue fingerprints the victim, those fingerprint impressions would be transferred to the Vidor Police Department where they will be entered into the AFIX Tracker System to see if the crash victim has ever been fingerprinted before, to possibly find a positive match and identification for the man.
Chief Carroll said that his police detectives have received several inquiries about the unidentified crash victim, but that none of those calls have inquired about a person that matched the victim’s description. The Chief also indicated that several senior Vidor Police Department police officers and senior Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies were given the opportunity to view the victim’s face before the victim’s remains were moved to the morgue and no law enforcement officer recognized the deceased man.
“He could have been someone just traveling, on foot, through our town,” said Chief Carroll. “We should find out soon.”