Columbia man killed after being struck by vehicle

COLUMBIA. Mo. (KMIZ)

A 47-year-old Columbia man was killed Friday night after he was struck by a vehicle while walking along East St. Charles Road, according to the Columbia Police Department.

Police responded around 9:09 p.m. Aug. 14 to a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian near East St. Charles Road and Remm Drive.

The pedestrian, identified as Mark Hunter Jr., 47, of Columbia, was traveling eastbound on East St. Charles Road when he was struck. Hunter was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. Police said his family has been notified.

Columbia Police Lt. Derek Moore said there were “a number of people” near the intersection when the crash happened. First responders were called to the scene at about 9:10 p.m.

The area was closed while officers investigated the crash. Columbia Police later said shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday that the roadway had reopened and officers had cleared the scene.

The investigation remains ongoing. Police have not released additional information about the driver or what led to the crash.

Christi Brown, a local driving instructor, said she noticed the pedestrian barrier on the newly reopened bridge shortly after it opened Friday.

“I happened to see it right after it opened, clear, and there was a nice barrier for people to cross the bridge,” Brown said.

Brown said walking is not always a choice for people who cannot afford a vehicle.

“There’s just people struggling to afford transportation. Public transportation is lacking. Cars are expensive, gas is expensive, maintenance is expensive,” she said.

People who frequently walk around Columbia said there are still areas where they believe the city could do more to make pedestrian travel safer.

Ernest Hill, who has experienced homelessness in Columbia for the past three years, said he spends much of his time walking through the city.

"All day, everyday and all night sometimes. Because there's no place to rest." Hill said. "So you have to keep yourself going in order to avoid 30 days in jail for trespassing on private property."

Hill said he has known three people experiencing homelessness who were killed in hit-and-run crashes in Columbia.

“They talk about the homeless as if they don’t have relatives, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, or brothers and sisters,” Hill said.

In the area where Friday night’s crash happened, sidewalks are present along the surrounding roads.

An ABC 17 News measurement found the sidewalk along East St. Charles Road was about five feet wide. The sidewalk on Remm Drive near East St. Charles Road measured about four feet wide, while the sidewalk across the street measured about eight feet wide.

It is unclear whether Hunter Jr. was walking on the sidewalk or in the roadway when he was struck.

Police have not confirmed whether Hunter Jr. was experiencing homelessness.