Columbia, SC (WLTX) - An elderly man has died after being hit by a vehicle in the parking lot of the Dorn Veterans Administration Hospital.
The collision happened just before 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts identified the man as 85-year-old Duane Mack of Gilbert. Paramedics transported Gilbert to the hospital where he later died.
"Obviously the driver and his passenger very shaken up about the incident," said Columbia Police spokesperson Jennifer Timmons.
Police say Mack and a relative were walking down a sidewalk at the hospital. At the same time, a man in a pickup truck was attempting to park in a handicap space when the vehicle jumped the curb and hit the Mack, pinning him underneath the vehicle.
"They had to remove him from underneath somehow and then they immediately transported him," said Timmons.
The truck also hit the wall of the building during the incident.
"What we're doing right now is trying to determine exactly what happened, exactly why this car excelerated. Did the driver mean to put it in reverse? Was it just that his foot hit the gas pedal? It's conceivable it's a horrible tragedy at this point," said Timmons.
Timmons added police are still investigating the incident.
UPDATE: 3:15pm
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts has identified the victim as 85 year old Duane Mack, who was leaving the VA hospital when he was struck around 9:49am. Mr. Mack was transported to Palmetto Richland Memorial by EMS where he was pronounced at 10:44am. The Coroner stated that Mr. Mack died from injuries sustained when he was hit by the vehicle.