Franklin man, 41, struck, killed on highway

A 41-year-old Franklin man was walking in the middle of Interstate 495 when he was struck and killed by a car shortly after midnight yesterday, state police said.

Anthony Santucci was “in the middle travel lane” about 12:22 a.m. on I-495 south, north of exit 17 in Franklin, when he was struck by a driver behind the wheel of a 2011 Honda, cops said.

The 32-year-old woman from Cumberland, R.I., who was driving the Honda that struck Santucci “stayed on scene,” police said.

Police offered no explanation for what Santucci was doing in the middle of the highway. The crash remains under investigation by the state police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the state police Crime Scene Services Section.

Santucci was declared dead at the scene, cops said.

Police said no charges had been filed.

Anthony R. Santucci, 72, of Milford identified himself as the father of the man who was fatally struck.

The elder Santucci said he learned about his son’s death yesterday morning and was looking for answers about what happened.

As of yesterday afternoon, Santucci did not know his son was walking in the middle of the highway. He described his son as a former accountant who was a “great kid.”

“I don’t even know what happened,” the elder Santucci said. “My daughter said he was killed last night. I’ve been upset since this morning. I’m sorry, I can’t talk anymore. ... I’m too distraught to talk.”