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Pedestrian not using crosswalk fatally struck on Australian Avenue in West Palm Beach, police say

Driver of Corvette taken to hospital with minor injuries
A Corvette struck and killed a man who was attempting to cross Australian Avenue just north of Belvedere Road on April 5, 2024.
Posted at 2:06 AM, Apr 06, 2024
and last updated 2024-04-08 10:40:05-04

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Police in West Palm Beach are investigating a crash that left a man dead Friday night.

The man was identified as Callen Christopher, 35, by police on Saturday afternoon.

Investigators said the incident was reported at 10:48 p.m. in the 2400 block of South Australian Avenue, just north of Belvedere Road near the Indigo West Palm Beach apartments.

Christopher struck the windshield of a Corvette and landed in the grassy median in the 2400 block of Australian Avenue, police said. He was pronounced dead on the scene

"We believe the pedestrian was crossing from east to west across Australian Avenue, and as you can see it's very dark out here," Mike Jachles, West Palm Beach police spokesman, said. "It's not lit. He was not in a crosswalk. Certainly, those are all factors investigators will be looking at."

Southbound lanes of Australian Avenue were closed off from Worthington Road to Belvedere Road while investigators were at the scene.

When WPTV arrived, a yellow tarp could be seen laid over the body in the median and a pair of shoes were on the road.

Police said a 25-year-old man driving Corvette was taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center as a precaution. A 21-year-old woman in the vehicle was unhurt.

According to West Palm Beach police, the driver told authorities they were headed to church at the time of the crash.

Investigators do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor, and no charges are pending.

The incident is still under investigation.