Man struck and killed picking up crash debris in Tulare County identified

CUTLER, Calif. (KFSN) -- The man who was struck and killed as he was picking up debris from a crash on a Tulare County highway has been identified.

Family members have identified him as 50-year-old Marin Apodaca of Cutler. They say he was trying to help someone who had just been in a car crash moments before.

The California Highway Patrol says the crash happened just before 6 a.m. Friday on Highway 63 and Avenue 392, just south of Cutler.

A truck was going southbound on Highway 63 when the driver stopped to turn left and was rear-ended by another car.

Officers say a man, now identified as Apodaca, stopped to help clear the road of crash debris and was hit by a passing 2016 Toyota. He died at the scene.

Family members confirmed that Apodaca was on his way to work with his wife and had stopped to pick up plywood off the highway.

Investigators say the driver of the Toyota did not see the man on the roadway.

"The driver of the Toyota stayed on the scene and administered CPR on the pedestrian. No alcohol and or drugs seemed to be involved," says Officer Baker with the California Highway Patrol.

The family says paramedics did CPR on Apodaca for 15 minutes.

One person from the initial crash was hospitalized for cuts to his head but is expected to be okay.

Highway 63 was closed between Avenue 388 and Road 128 for the CHP investigation but reopened shortly before 8 a.m.

Drugs and alcohol are not factors in the crash.

The family came out and built this small memorial.

We spoke with his older sister, Angela Reyes, who said he was a very happy person who was always willing to help.

"Our hearts are broken and shattered, and the world kind of has stopped because we don't know how we're gonna move forward," says Angela.

Angela says her younger brother was adventurous and enjoyed camping, fishing and the outdoors.

Marin and his wife had been married for 25 years.

They had just celebrated his 50th birthday in May.

He leaves behind four children... the youngest a five-year-old boy.

"He still had a lot of life, he still had his kids. He told his daughter when I walked down the aisle now she's never gonna have that," expresses Angela.

Angela is asking for prayers for her family during this difficult time, "We need God to give us strength and support as we go through this."

The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses.

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