Police say man was struck and killed after getting out of van to check on dog

El Paso police officials have identified the man who was hit and killed by a car on Jan. 9 in West El Paso.

Police were called to the 600 block of S. Mesa Hills Dr. around 6:30 p.m.

According to police, Richard Appelgren, 80, was driving north on Mesa Hills when he hit something, possibly a dog.

Police said he pulled his van over to the right side of the road and was walking across to the left lane to check on what he hit when a driver changed lanes and hit Appelgren.

The news release said the driver, Cory Do, 20, was changing lanes to avoid hitting the dog.

Appelgren died at University Medical Center.

While police said Do may have been going above the speed limit they did not say if he will be charged in the crash, adding that the dog lying in the roadway and Appelgren crossing into traffic on foot were also factors.