Pedestrian in ‘critical condition’ after Ceres car collision

(FOX40.COM) — A man is in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle while crossing the road near the Walmart in Ceres. The Ceres Police Department received multiple 9-1-1 calls Sunday just after 8 p.m., officials said Tuesday. Officers responded to reports that a pedestrian was struck by a driver near the entrance to a parking lot just north of the intersection of Mitchell and Service roads. At the scene, officers found a 33-year-old male pedestrian, according to a news release. They rendered medical aid until paramedics and first responders from the Modesto Fire Department arrived. The man was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition. He was not identified by police, who said they are notifying the man's family. The Traffic Unit's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team responded and is investigating "due to the severity of the collision," the department said. "Preliminary findings indicate the driver of the involved vehicle was traveling northbound onMitchell Road with a green traffic signal at the east Walmart parking lot entrance when thevehicle struck the pedestrian, who was attempting to cross the roadway," a police spokesperson said in the release. "After interviewing the driver of the vehicle at the scene, it was determined alcohol was not a factor in the collision." The collision remains under investigation, and officers encouraged witnesses to contact the department. Traffic was diverted while the northbound lanes of Mitchell Road were closed for several hours following the collision.