The pedestrian fatally struck Saturday at 1 a.m. while in a crosswalk at 12th Avenue at Broadway is identified as Michael O’Connell, 58, of Belmar, New Jersey.
The preliminary investigation shows that the driver of a 2009 Dodge pickup truck, Joey Nixon, 36, was attempting to turn left (outbound) onto Broadway from 12th Avenue South when he struck O’Connell who was crossing Broadway with the walk light. Nixon had a green light but failed to yield to the pedestrian. O’Connell died at the scene.
According to witnesses, Nixon was spinning the pickup’s tires and speeding prior to the collision. Nixon, of Waverly, Tennessee, initially left the scene but returned a short time later. He did not show any indicators of impairment. Nixon was issued a citation for failure to yield the right of way. The case will be reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office at the conclusion of the investigation.