The Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Major Crash Unit is investigating a traffic fatality that killed a man on Dec. 22 on the adjacent alley in the 1100 block of 5th Street, NE.
According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of an unconscious person, where they located an adult male suffering from trauma. He died at the scene.
During the investigation, it was determined the individual had fallen to the ground in the alley, and shortly after a vehicle entered the alley and unknowingly struck the man while he was on the ground. The driver of the vehicle has been cooperating with detectives.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries and the manner of death an accident.
The victim was identified as 34-year-old Samuel Thornton.
