A pedestrian was killed while attempting to cross Highway 20 on North Whidbey Wednesday.

The Washington State Patrol has identified the victim as Jesus Herrera, 60, of Oak Harbor. He died at the scene and his next of kin have been notified by the Island County Coroner.

According to a press memo, the accident occurred near mile post 39 and Northgate Drive at about 6 p.m. Herrera was crossing the highway when he was struck by the driver-side mirror of a southbound 2005 Freightliner refrigeration truck.

He suffered massive head and chest trauma, injuries which North Whidbey Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Mike Brown classified as not survivable.

"There was a doctor on the scene that had already made that determination (by the time emergency responders arrived)," Brown said.

The driver of the truck, Tacoma resident Xuelong Zheng, 39, was not injured in the accident. According to the state patrol, the cause has been determined as "inattention by a pedestrian." Drugs and alcohol are not believed to have been involved.

Brown said it was unclear why Herrera was crossing the street, but did note that bus stops are located on both sides of the street nearby.

A portion of Highway 20, from Monkey Hill to West Troxell Road, was closed for about three hours while the state patrol investigated the accident.

Contact Whidbey News Times Staff reporter Justin Burnett at jburnett@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5054.

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