Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A pedestrian died in a hit-and-run in Raleigh on Friday morning and Raleigh Police are looking for the driver.

It happened around 4:30 a.m. on New Bern Avenue between Poole Road and Raleigh Boulevard.

Raleigh Police Department blocked off the road and put up crime scene tape. The department confirmed it was investigating a hit-and-run involving a pedestrian.

Officers described the victim as a man. They have not released his identity because his next of kin has not been notified.

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However, several businesses told ABC11 on Friday that the victim was in their stores on Thursday. One person said they saw the victim hours before the hit-and-run.

According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the number of fatal pedestrian crashes has increased by 18% in the past four years

In Raleigh, RPD said it has investigated 1,654 hit-and-run wrecks in the first half of the year.

Raleigh police have not released information about a possible vehicle description.