CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A pedestrian who was hit by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer's cruiser in Steele Creek has died.
It happened last Thursday around 6:15 p.m. on South Tryon Street at Moss Road. Witnesses said the pedestrian was in the median and crossed at a place where there wasn't a crosswalk.
CMPD said following the accident, the officer stopped and immediately began rendering aid until MEDIC arrived.
The pedestrian, identified as 80-year-old Arnulfo Salazar, was taken to CMC, where he was pronounced dead Sunday. The officer, identified as Jeffrey Page, was not hurt.
Witnesses said at the time of the crash, it was raining and traffic was light.
CMPD said on Thursday that detectives were working to determine if impairment of the pedestrian was a contributing factor.
A GoFundMe account has been started to pay for funeral expenses. The family said Salazar wanted to be buried next to his late wife in Colombia.
“We are grateful and blessed that he fought to hang on long enough for us to say goodbye. We cherish his memory, and as we feel the pain of loss, we must also face the pain of medical and funeral expenses,” the family said in a statement on the website.