Man hit by car, dies Monday night

Platte Avenue at Murray Boulevard was closed Monday night after a pedestrian crossing the street was hit by a car and killed.

Colorado Springs police identified the victim as Roger Cowan, 57.

Police said that shortly after 9 p.m., Cowan was crossing Murray westbound when a vehicle traveling southbound hit him, knocking him about 50 feet. Police said Cowan crossed against the light, meaning the walk sign was not on.

The police department’s major accident unit investigated at the scene, and determined the driver wasn’t impaired. However, it’s unclear whether Cowan was impaired.

Police said they notified Cowan’s family. They were at the scene and unavailable for comment.

Several bystanders expressed shock and sadness at Cowan’s death, saying that they knew him.

“I hoped it wasn’t him,” said one man. “But when I saw his hat in the street, I knew it was.”

Another bystander said Cowan had just left a bar a block away on Murray. The bystander didn’t say whether Cowan had been drinking.

“His son said he called (Cowan), but (Cowan) wasn’t home yet and he got worried,” said the bystander.

This is the city’s first auto-pedestrian fatality of 2013, police said, and it comes a year after the city had 13 auto-pedestrian deaths.

“This should be a reminder for pedestrians to be alert and for drivers to be alert,” said Lt. Brian Ritz.