Blocker’s cause and manner of death have not been determined at this time.
Police are looking for a large Ford F650 in connection to the incident, said Sgt. Gordon Cairns, Dayton police Traffic Services Unit supervisor. It isn’t clear what color the truck is, but investigators believe it’s a 2016 model or newer base off debris, tire marks and other evidence at the scene. There may be damage on the driver side of the truck as well.
The crash took place just after midnight as Blocker was crossing the street. Cairns noted it was raining at the time and weather could be a factor, however, he said police believe the driver of the truck would know they had hit someone.
“This again is something we’ve constantly said before, if you believe you’re in an accident or if you hit someone just stop, talk to police and don’t make things worse than what they could be,” Cairns said. “Obviously we can get things worked out better that way.”
Drivers who leave the scene of an accident could face additional charges, including a felony hit and run charge.
The initial investigation indicates the truck was going south on North Main Street in the left lane. It’s not clear what direction Blocker was traveling. He was not in a crosswalk when the vehicle hit him, Cairns said.
This is the third deadly hit-skip incident in Dayton in less than two weeks.
“In the last week-and-a-half we’ve had three hit-and-run accidents,” Cairns said. “One was a motorcycle, the last one was a vehicle vs a vehicle and this one is a vehicle vs a pedestrian, someone crossing the street.”
The first crash happened at Oakridge Drive and North Gettysburg Avenue on April 27.
A black Jeep Commander traveling east on Oakridge Dive hit a Suzuki motorcycle heading north on North Gettysburg Avenue, according to a crash report.
The motorcyclist, 37-year-old Franklin Jones, of Dayton, was killed in the crash.
Cairns previously said that investigators are interested in speaking to Lonnie Harvson III, 60, in connection to the incident.
The second fatal crash was early Saturday morning near the intersection of Salem and Manhattan avenues.
The victim was identified as 36-year-old Latoya Erving, of Dayton.
“In two of these cases we have persons on interest,” Cairns said. “In one, we have actually made an arrest. Some of that information did come from citizens that contacted us and let us know to look for these particular persons or particular vehicles.”
Alcohol and speed are believed to be a factor in the first two incident as well, he said.
Cairns added that help and tips from the public have aided Dayton police in previous investigations, especially hit-and-run crashes.
“We’ll take any information you may have,” he said. “We investigate all leads that come to us and ultimately they will and do help a lot of times in these crashes.”
Anyone with information related to any of these incidents can call Dayton police at 937-333-COPS (2677) or CrimeStoppers at 937-222-STOP (7867). Callers to CrimeStoppers can remain anonymous and even receive a reward.
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