Niceforo Garcia-Rufino was crossing East Arrowood Road in the 100 block, near Nations Ford Road, when he was hit at about 8:50 p.m., according to police. Officers arrived to find him unresponsive in the roadway, and MEDIC pronounced him dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation indicates Garcia-Rufino was crossing outside a marked crosswalk when he was struck by a red Mercedes-Benz. Police said the driver was traveling above the posted speed limit and continued east on Arrowood Road toward South Boulevard without stopping.

Investigators have since located the suspect vehicle, but the driver remains at large. No description of the driver has been released.

Detective D. Leung is handling the case and asked anyone who witnessed the crash or has information to call 704-432-2169, extension 6.

The death adds to a grim tally of pedestrian fatalities on Charlotte-area roads, where advocates have long pressed for safer street design, lower speeds and better crosswalk infrastructure. East Arrowood Road near Nations Ford is a busy commercial corridor with multiple lanes and limited marked crossings, conditions that traffic-safety researchers say raise the risk for people on foot.

Police have not said whether speed or visibility played a role beyond the preliminary finding that the driver was exceeding the limit. The investigation is ongoing.