The accident happened around 6 p.m. Monday night near the intersection of Adell and Owens, just outside of the Madera city limits.
The California Highway Patrol says the victim was walking in the eastbound lane of Adell when he was hit, and he was only blocks from home. He also had some groceries with him that ended up scattered across the roadway.
"It's hard to say that he was trying to avoid the wet shoulder or muddy areas, but in that particular area of the collision there was dry ground near the roadway. So it's difficult to say at this time why he may have been in the street," Sgt. John Johnson of the Madera CHP said.
The driver of the vehicle stopped at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.
The CHP says speed and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash, and at this point, they haven't determined who was at fault.
Investigators have not yet released the name of the victim.