A Christmas Eve walk turned tragic in Baytown, Texas, when a man toting what appeared to be holiday gifts was struck and killed by a Jeep Cherokee, officials said. The Harris County Sheriff's Office confirmed the pedestrian, carrying presents including two large stuffed animals, was fatally hit in the 8200 block of Wade Road.
According to a statement obtained by FOX26 Houston, the sheriff's department, which is leading the inquiry, noted that the collision took place just after 6 p.m., near the intersection with the East Freeway and E. Wallisville Road. The area, known for its absence of street lights and lack of sidewalks, proved perilous for the unnamed victim.
Speaking on the incident, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez reported to KHOU, "He may have been able to stand up and then ended up stumbling down and eventually collapsed again to the ditch." The driver, described only as a woman in the sheriff's statement, claimed she didn't see the man prior to the impact and further indicated she had returned to the scene after driving down the road, eventually calling 911.
Authorities noted the woman showed no signs of impairment; she is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. A medical examiner was dispatched to the location to aid in identification efforts so that deputies could inform the man's next of kin. As part of their safety advisories, Gonzalez emphasized in a statement, "One of the things we want to pay attention to is the direction of travel for the pedestrian. One thing we do want to recommend is to try to walk facing the vehicle so you can make eye contact with the driver and not with your back toward traffic."
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