A man died after he was intentionally hit by the driver of an SUV on the 84th Avenue bridge over Interstate 25 early Tuesday morning, according to the Thornton Police Department.

Officers responded to the bridge in south Thornton around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday to reports of an auto-pedestrian crash, the police department said in a news release.

A man was struck by a red and tan Ford Explorer with Colorado license plate CQJ-N56 that fled the scene. The identity of the driver is unknown, according to Thornton police.

The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His identity will be released by the Adams County Coroners Office.

Investigators later found the crash appears to be intentional and there is an “active and open investigation,” according to the department.

Police found the vehicle on Tuesday afternoon but are still looking for the driver, according to department officials.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact Thornton police at 720-977-5069.

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Originally Published: July 23, 2024 at 1:09 p.m.