Man in wheelchair fatally struck by big rig

A man crossing the street in a wheelchair died Monday evening after he was struck by a big rig exiting the freeway.

Shortly after 5 p.m. the man in the wheelchair appeared to be in the crosswalk on Fifth Street at the southbound 215 Freeway off-ramp when the big rig hit him, dragging him several yards, police at the scene said.

Firefighters pronounced the man dead at the scene. Family members came to the scene but declined to comment.

Police and California Highway Patrol officers are investigating the crash. Authorities hadn’t determined if the man or the truck had the right of way.

The man’s identity was being withheld temporarily.