Authorities said a Wapato man was killed when he was struck by a truck while walking Sunday along U.S. 97.

The Washington State Patrol said that at about 2 a.m. Sunday, Lemero W. Colfax, 46, was walking in the southbound lanes of the highway near Frontage Road. He then was struck by a semi-tractor trailer driven south by Juan A. Nunez, 52, of Yakima, troopers said.

Authorities said Colfax died at the scene. His next of kin has been identified and notified, according to troopers.

Nunez was accompanied by two passengers, the identities of whom were not released by the state patrol. No one else was injured.

Troopers said no drugs or alcohol were involved and criminal charges are not expected.

The crash comes just weeks after the Yakama Nation Tribal Agency announced plans to create more than 150 miles of trails throughout the region in the interest of pedestrian safety. Multiple media outlets report that the agency found more than 100 incidents involving pedestrians along a stretch of U.S. 97 over the last decade.

Tribal agency leaders said nearly two-dozen people have died and hundreds more have been injured on the stretch of U.S. 97 between Union Gap and Satus Pass.

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