A Glen Burnie man crossing Ritchie Highway on foot Sunday night was struck and killed by a pickup truck, police said.
Richard Nicholas Koros, 42, of the 7800 block of Americana Circle, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
The accident comes just more than a month after a 6-year-old Pasadena girl was hit by a car on Duvall Highway in the first reported pedestrian fatality this year in the county.
In 2005, there was just one pedestrian fatality, according to police records.
Stephen John Firko, 45, of Glen Burnie, was driving his 2003 Ford Super Duty Crew Cab pickup truck north on Ritchie Highway near Americana Circle when he struck Koros, who was attempting to cross the road, police said.
Koros was struck by the front of the truck and thrown about 100 feet from the area of impact, police said.
Firko told police Koros was crossing in an area that had no street lights or crosswalks and was wearing dark-colored clothing. Firko said he did not see Koros until he was directly in front of the pickup truck. At the time of the crash, traffic was light and rain was falling.
Police said the investigation indicates that pedestrian error caused the accident.
An investigation is pending and will be reviewed by the State?s Attorney?s Office.
The Federal Highway Administration estimates about 3,000 pedestrians are hit by cars each year in Maryland. About 17 percent of the total traffic fatalities in the state are pedestrian deaths, and the state ranks 13th in the nation for most pedestrian fatalities, the Federal Highway Administration said.
By the numbers
Pedestrian-related accidents in Anne Arundel County:
» 2003: 181 accidents, 7 fatalities
» 2004: 165 accidents, 7 fatalities
» 2005: 148 accidents, 1 fatality
» 2006 (through Feb. 28): 22 accidents, no fatalities
Source: Anne Arundel County Police
