Man dies after being struck by two cars while trying to cross Berlin Turnpike

A pedestrian was killed when he was struck by two vehicles while trying to cross the Berlin Turnpike in Meriden Wednesday evening, police said.

Officers were alerted to the crash at 7:15 p.m. and responded to the area of 1966 North Broad St., where they discovered a male had been hit in the northbound lanes, according to the Meriden Police Department.

The preliminary investigation showed the pedestrian was walking along the edge of the road before attempting to cross the divided highway when he was struck, Lt. Darrin Mckay said in a statement Thursday.

According to Mckay, the pedestrian was hit by a yellow Chevy Silverado and then by a Hyundai Tucson that was traveling behind the pickup truck.

The driver of the Chevy fled the area, while the Hyundai driver stopped and remained at the scene, Mckay said.

Hours after the crash, the Chevy driver went to the Meriden Police Department where investigators impounded the pickup truck for analysis, according to Mckay.

Police are withholding the identity of the pedestrian until his next of kin can be notified.

“At this time, the Meriden Police Department is coordinating with other agencies to make notification to the deceased’s next of kin; however, at this time we have still been unable to do so,” Mckay said Thursday morning.

The northbound side of the Berlin Turnpike was closed in the area of the crash for just over five hours after the incident while police investigated and reopened around 12:30 a.m.

The investigation into the crash remains “open and active” and is being conducted by the Meriden Police Accident Reconstruction Unit, Mckay said.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact investigator William White at 203-630-6201.