Man in critical condition after being struck by truck on Victory Drive

A 54-year-old male pedestrian is in critical condition at Columbus Midtown Medical Center after being struck by a truck Tuesday night at the intersection of Victory and Benning Drive, according to authorities.

The pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries but the 22-year-old male driver wasn’t harmed, Columbus police said in a report describing the 6:51 p.m. wreck.

Officials said the motorist was driving a 2012 Freightliner Cascadia 125 northwest on Victory Drive as the pedestrian was attempting to walk across Victory Drive near the intersection of Benning Drive, where there was no crosswalk. The 54-year-old man was pushing a bike along with him, authorities noted.

The driver said he was in the middle lane approaching the intersection of Victory Drive and Benning Drive when he saw the pedestrian standing at the edge of the roadway. He allegedly made eye contact with the pedestrian just prior to him “walking off the edge of the road,” and then proceeded through the intersection.

The pedestrian also headed into the travel lanes, and that’s when the driver made eye contact with the man again. The pedestrian began to speed up and cross the road, according to the motorist’s account of the incident.

The driver told authorities that he “slammed on his breaks, but it was too late.” The front of the truck struck the left side of the pedestrian, causing life-threatening injuries to the man and slight damage to the vehicle, officials said.

This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 10:30 AM with the headline "Man in critical condition after being struck by truck on Victory Drive."