A Palmdale man was struck and killed by a vehicle while attempting to run across the 14 Freeway on Sunday morning.

At approximately 12:13 a.m. on Sunday, March 5, the California Highway Patrol Newhall Area Office received a call for a pedestrian that had been hit by a vehicle while running across the freeway just north of Agua Dulce Canyon Road.

CHP officers discovered Juan Avalos, 44, of Palmdale, lying in the northbound lanes of the 14 Freeway, according to Officer Josh Greengard, spokesperson for the CHP Newhall Area Office.

“Preliminary information indicates (Avalos) was involved in a separate traffic crash on the southbound 14 Agua Dulce Canyon Road off-ramp. For unknown reasons, (Avalos) started running across the southbound lanes into the northbound lanes, ultimately being struck by (a 2022 Mazda MX5) as he ran across the #2 and #3 lanes,” Greengard said.

It is unknown as of Monday if Avalos was impaired by drugs or alcohol at the time of his death, according to CHP.

A Sig-Alert was issued at approximately 1:37 a.m. for the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 lanes of the northbound 14 Freeway, and all lanes were reopened by 4:44 a.m. Sunday.

This crash is under investigation by the CHP Newhall area office. Any witnesses are encouraged to contact the office at (661) 600-1600

Ed. Note: KHTS has elected not to identify the driver of the vehicle involved in this incident, as no criminal charges are being pursued.

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