A North Dakota man was killed early Saturday when he was struck by a pickup truck while walking on a rural highway in Manitoba, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported Sunday.
The RCMP says he was walking north in the southbound lane of Highway 32 when he was struck by a southbound pickup truck at about 1 a.m. Saturday.
The 18-year-old man's name and hometown have not been released. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
RCMP Sgt. Line Karpish told the Herald that the North Dakota man's vehicle was found in a ditch near the scene of the accident. She said authorities believe the man was trying to walk to get help in Winkler, Man., a small town about 2.5 miles north of where he was struck by the truck.
Karpish said authorities have ruled out drinking as a factor for the driver of the pickup, an 18-year-old Manitoban. The driver has not been cited for any traffic offenses and authorities believe lack of visibility was a factor in the crash, but Karpish said the investigation is not yet complete.
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"1:00 in the morning, wearing dark clothing and walking on the road, it's not a good situation," she said.
An autopsy and toxicology report of the victim will be conducted this week at a Winnipeg hospital.
Karpish said the North Dakotan has relatives who live in the area of the accident, and at least one of them had been notified of his death by Sunday afternoon.
