A man reportedly struck and killed by three vehicles on the Garden State Parkway on Saturday night has authorities continuing their investigate why the victim was walking on the highway.
A spokesperson for the NJ State Police officially identified the victim as **Mr. Maurice Dernier, 31,** an East Orange resident who died at the scene.
Police closed all three northbound lanes of the highway near mile marker 146.6, for approximately three and a half hours, to determine the official cause.
According to a statement released by state police officials, the incident happened at approximately 11:30 p.m. sending emergency responders rushing to investigate reports of a pedestrian down on the Garden State Parkway in East Orange.
Police and rescue crews arrived at the scene and found an unconscious and unresponsive male victim lying in the northbound lanes State Police said.
A preliminary investigation indicated that a Volkswagen Passat, traveling on the highway, struck a pedestrian who was in the lane of travel.
Police say the impact caused the pedestrian to go airborne where he then came to rest in the roadway where he was subsequently struck by two additional vehicles.
Authorities have not confirmed several rumors of Mr. Dernier engaged in a foot pursuit that caused him to end up attempting to flee across the highway.
There were no other injuries reported, and all drivers cooperated with the investigation police said.