Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd confirmed that the individual struck and killed on Honeysuckle Road Tuesday night was 79-year-old Marcus Gaddis. Gaddis, a retired professor from Troy University, was found after being hit by a vehicle. Authorities suggest that Gaddis may have stopped his vehicle to retrieve an item from the road, possibly something from his car, at the time of the incident.
The driver of the vehicle involved in the incident was not present at the scene when law enforcement arrived. As per reports, witnesses have indicated that the vehicle may have been a dark-colored pickup truck. Gaddis was struck while on the roadway, and the situation has raised questions about whether he had stopped momentarily to attend to something in the road.
At this stage, the matter is under investigation by local authorities. The cause of the crash and the whereabouts of the driver remain unclear. Police have spent time gathering evidence and speaking to witnesses in an effort to piece together the details of the accident.
Gaddis, who had retired from his role as a professor at Troy University, was known in the community. The collision, which resulted in his tragic death, has prompted officials to look into all available evidence to determine the sequence of events leading to the fatal accident.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement is seeking more information from anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who may have additional details about the vehicle involved.