BAFFLING DEATH DISPUTED CORONER TO RULE ON SHOOTING VS. CRASH.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LITTLEROCK - Sheriff's homicide investigators are trying to determine what happened to a man who died Monday night when he was hit by a vehicle while walking alongside a road.

California Highway Patrol officers said they believed that the man had been shot at least once in the back but sheriff's homicide investigators disputed that finding.

``Our investigation has revealed that the victim, who has not yet been identified, died as the result of a traffic collision after he was struck by a vehicle,'' said Deputy Johnie Jones of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Headquarters Bureau.

Because of the differing reports about the cause of death, officials are waiting for the Coroner's Office to complete its determination before proceeding with the investigation.

Sheriff's officials said they believe that what CHP officials thought was a gunshot wound was more likely injuries suffered from impact with the car.

According to a Sheriff's Department statement, the man was hit about 9:15 p.m. on 105th Street East north of Avenue R. Deputies said the motorist who hit him called 911 and remained at the scene until deputies arrived.

Sheriff's homicide detectives were called out because of the report of the gunshot wound, but do not typically investigate traffic deaths, officials said.

From their initial investigation, officials said, if the death does prove to be a traffic incident, the motorist does not appear to be at fault.