Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck by Vehicle, LIVINGSTON, January 1, 2016 - At approximately 9:45 pm on January 1, 2016, a silver 2001 Honda CRV driven by Kenneth McCaffety, 75, of Onalaska, was north-bound on US-59. According to McCaffety, a man ran in front of his vehicle just North of the Pan American Drive overpass (by the Boot Barn). McCaffety's vehicle struck the pedestrian knocking the man around 75 feet from the point of impact as he came to rest in the middle of the right lane. The man was crossing the highway towards Boot Barn. Americare Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with Livingston Fire Chief, Corky Cochran, and Officers Dallas Early, Tito Reyes, Sergeant Darrell Newman, and Detective Marty Drake (all with Livingston Police Department). EMS personnel immediately began performing CPR on the victim, Elfido Rolando Morales Mendez, 40, of Livingston (from Guatemala). Morales Mendez was loaded into an ambulance and rushed to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital where he passed away shortly after arrival. Justice of the Peace, Jamie Jones, performed an inquest. All traffic on 59 was blocked during investigation and cleanup. According to Livingston PD, the man was crossing 59 in a no crossing zone. McCaffety's vehicle was recovered by a rollback wrecker from George White & Sons Wrecker Service and will be stored in Onalaska.
The victim came to rest in the pavement. After performing CPR on the road, emergency personnel loaded the man into an ambulance where CPR cotinued.
The victim was struck by this 2001 Honda CRV.
Livingston Fire Chief, Corky Cochran, assisted EMS personnel in applying CPR.
Kenneth McCaffety looks at his vehicle as Livingston Police investigate the scene.
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