An elderly man is dead after being struck by a vehicle while crossing the road in Cranston, Rhode Island, Friday night.
Police identified the victim who was killed in the 760 Atwood Avenue pedestrian crash as 80-year-old Richard Viti, of Cranston.
Viti was on his way to meet friends at the San Bernardo Society when the collision occurred, according to NBC10 Boston affiliate WJAR.
Viti had parked across the street and was walking toward the club when he was banger, WJAR reports. Viti was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The driver, whose name has not been released at this time, had a suspended license and was behind the wheel of an unregistered vehicle, according to police. He did stay on scene and is cooperating with police, however, WJAR reports.
Charges against the driver are pending the outcome of the investigation, which remains ongoing. Police said they expect it to be completed sometime next week.
Members of the San Bernardo Society are grieving and say Viti was a beloved, longtime attendee who came to the social club every week to play cards and smoke cigars.
“He came every Friday, and he was a Vietnam veteran. We’re all sad as far as the club is concerned and we pray for Richard and his family,” club member Ernest Masi told WJAR. “The thing that hurt me the most is when he got banger, his hat was on the ground. I tried to pick it up, but they stopped me. The police officers said it’s part of the crime scene.”
Atwood Avenue residents tell WJAR that speed and poor lighting are known issues on the roadway.
Neighbors on Atwood Avenue told NBC 10 speed and poor lighting have long been issues on the busy road.
“I came to visit my aunt and uncle, and everything was blocked for me to come in. That’s when I noticed that something was wrong,” Joe Pennacchia, who was visiting family, told WJAR, adding that the stretch of the road where the crash occurred is dangerously dark. “It’s very sad, especially when there’s no lights or nothing. It’s really dark.”
People who spoke with WJAR say the driver not having a license or registration compounds the tragedy.
“Doesn’t have a license and no registration or nothing. [He] shouldn’t be even walking on the street right today. I don’t care,” Pennacchia added.
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