Man fatally struck by vehicle in Hammond

A 56-year-old man was fatally struck by a vehicle Wednesday night in northwest Indiana.

About 7:50 p.m., Marvin Keith Thomas was walking in the 5300 block of Columbia Avenue in Hammond when he was struck by a vehicle traveling southbound, according to Hammond Police.

Thomas, of the 6100 block of Willard Road in Hammond, suffered blunt force trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Lake County coroner’s office.

Police said Thomas had recently been released from a local hospital and was dealing with health issues affecting his balance. They believe he suffered a medical incident that caused him to fall into the outer southbound lane of Columbia Avenue.

One vehicle driving southbound saw Thomas in the street and was able to swerve and avoid hitting him, police said. The driver immediately turned around while calling police to report the incident.

However, someone driving a second vehicle was unable to avoid hitting him, police said.

The driver, who had two small children in her vehicle and is “severely traumatized” by the crash, was given an alcohol test at the scene that determined she had not been drinking and she showed no other signs of impairment, police said.

She was taken to the Hammond Police Department where she “fully cooperated” with investigators before being released, according to Hammond police. No charges were filed against her.