A man has died after an elderly driver hit him and another person with his car in the Old Town neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia, in an apparent accident, police say.
Jeremais Herrera Rodriguez, 44, of Alexandria, was sweeping in Swift Alley, behind the restaurant where he worked, when he was hit by a car Tuesday morning, police and coworkers said.
"We're determining if the driver lost control of the vehicle," Deputy Chief David Huchler of the Alexandria Police Department said about the 92-year-old man behind the wheel.
Rodriguez worked two jobs to send money to his wife in Guatemala and three of his children who live there, his daughter, Cindy Herrera, said.
She wept as she saw the place where her father was killed.
"I'm very sorry for what happened and know he will never come back to me. But I know he is now with God," she said through an interpreter.
The driver who hit Rodriguez was trying to back into in a parking space off Swift Alley, behind Burke & Herbert Bank, when he hit a parking attendant, police said. He pinned the worker against a brick wall.
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The driver then accelerated down the narrow alley, striking Rodriguez, who was behind the restaurant where he worked.
Rodriguez was killed immediately, police said.
The parking attendant was treated on the scene and appears to be OK, Huchler said.
The driver, whom police did not identify, remained on the scene and was cooperating with police.
"Our preliminary investigation into this does not appear that this was malicious, or there was any intent to hit the two pedestrians," Huchler said.
Police are investigating whether the driver had a medical or physical problem. They are seeking witnesses and surveillance video. No information was released on whether the driver could face criminal charges.
Rodriguez worked as a dishwasher at The Warehouse Bar & Grill for six or seven years, coworkers said. He was a vital part of the staff, chef Sert Ruamthong said.
"He helped really good, like my right-hand guy," he said. "I've been work here like 26 years. This is the best guy I have."
Rodriguez was friendly and "high-spirited," neighbor Anna Williams said.
Candles and flowers had been left in the alley Tuesday evening in Rodriguez's memory.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the victim's name, based on new information from police.
