ALAMOSA – A pedestrian was killed when he was struck by a vehicle  while crossing Highway 17. The accident happened on Tuesday evening shortly after 5 p.m.. Traffic was diverted from the area until shortly after 8 p.m. while Colorado State Patrol was on the scene conducting an investigation.

According to Capt, Nathan Lyons with the Colorado State Patrol, a 77-year-old man identified as Harvey Horton of Alamosa was crossing Highway 17 to get the mail from his mailbox when he was struck by a Jeep Cherokee traveling southbound. The accident occurred at mile marker 72.

Lyons said Horton was killed instantly.

The driver of the vehicle, a 27-year-old resident of Alamosa, was not injured in the collision and it was determined that neither alcohol nor excessive speed was a factor in the accident.

“This was just a terrible tragedy,” Lyons said. “The Colorado State Patrol extends our deepest sympathy to the family of the victim.”