Arlington Man Killed While Attempting to Cross I-30 Near Center Street

ARLINGTON, Texas - A 32-year-old man was struck and killed Sunday night while attempting to cross Interstate 30 in Arlington, prompting authorities to shut down the westbound lanes for approximately three hours.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as Aaron Cole Leake, 32. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Arlington police officers responded at 8:41 p.m. Sept. 20 to the westbound lanes of I-30 near Center Street following reports of an auto-pedestrian collision.

Investigators determined Leake was attempting to walk across the interstate from the south side to the north side when he entered the path of a westbound Chevrolet Malibu.

The Malibu struck Leake in the westbound lanes. Police have not released additional details about the moments immediately preceding the collision, including which lane Leake was in when he was hit or how far he had made it across the highway.

Authorities also have not determined why Leake entered the interstate.

The driver of the Chevrolet stopped after the collision and remained at the scene. Police said the driver cooperated with investigators, and no criminal charges have been filed.

The crash caused a significant disruption along I-30 Sunday night. Westbound traffic was diverted onto the Center Street exit for about three hours while officers investigated, documented the scene and cleared the highway. FOX 4 reported that all westbound lanes were temporarily closed as investigators worked.

The area where the collision occurred is along I-30 near Center Street in central Arlington.

Following the fatal crash, Arlington police issued a warning about the dangers pedestrians face when entering interstate traffic. The department said highway speeds and the distance vehicles require to stop can make it extremely difficult for motorists to avoid someone who enters the travel lanes.

Police urged pedestrians who need to cross an interstate to use designated routes, including sidewalks along overpasses and underpasses, rather than attempting to walk across highway lanes.

The department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.