The incident happened just after 5 a.m. Sunday on Highway 59, north of Mission Avenue, the CHP said a Honda Civic was driving south on Highway 59, when the driver said he saw a man walking on the road. Investigators said the driver of the Honda swerved to miss him, but was unable to avoid him.
The CHP said when the Honda Civic hit the man, he was thrown into the northbound lane and was hit by several more vehicles. Investigators said some of those vehicles did not stop at the scene.
The driver of the Honda Civic, 42-year-old Timoteo Rios of Merced, and the passenger had minor injuries. Investigators do not believe that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the accident -- but the incident is still under investigation.
