The Des Moines Police Department identified a pedestrian who was struck and killed near Merle Hay Mall as 53-year-old Andrew E. Verwers of Des Moines.
Police also have identified the driver, an adult male, whom investigators have interviewed, according to a Wednesday, June 25 news release. His name was not released.
Around 8 p.m. Monday, Verwers was standing on the median on Hickman Road at the intersection with Merle Hay Road when a Dodge Ram pickup traveling eastbound drove over the center median and struck him. Verwers received first aid before the Des Moines Fire Department transported him to UnityPoint Iowa Methodist Medical Center, where he died due to his injuries.
Investigators learned that the same truck was reported to another agency as a reckless driver 2 minutes prior to the incident, according to the release. The driver fled the scene after the crash, and patrol officers located the truck in the 2500 block of 44th Street shortly after.
No charges have been filed as the Des Moines Police Department Traffic Unit continues its investigation.
Chris Meglio is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at cmeglio@gannett.com or on X @chris_meglio.
This story was updated to add a video.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines police say driver who struck pedestrian was seen reckless driving before crash
Reporting by Chris Meglio, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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