On Wednesday, February 7, 2007, at approximately 4:30 pm, police and DCFD emergency medical personnel were summoned to the 400 block of New York Avenue, NW for the report of a pedestrian struck by a truck.  Upon arrival, they discovered that an adult male had been struck by a cement mixer on New York Avenue at 4th Street, NW.  The operator of that vehicle remained on the scene, as did the operator of the tractor trailer. 

Emergency medical personnel could find no life signs.  The decedent has not yet been positively identified.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the decedent, who it appears was acting as a Good Samaritan, was trying to help the operator of a tractor trailer after the operator discovered that he couldn’t enter the Third Street Tunnel because his vehicle exceeded the clearance height for the tunnel.  Reportedly, the decedent was trying to direct traffic to assist the operator in backing up.  The decedent directed the operator of the cement mixer to turn right off of New York Avenue and go around the tractor trailer, but apparently misjudged where he was standing and was struck by the rear section of the cement mixer. 

The case is currently under investigation by members of the department’s Major Crash Investigation Unit.