By Jorge Casuso

June 21, 2022 -- A man was struck and killed by a motorcyclist while walking across the 10 Freeway in Santa Monica in the early morning hours Tuesday, according to police.

The incident -- which was reported around 3:30 a.m. -- took place on the inner lane of the eastbound freeway just west of Lincoln Boulevard, said Lt. Rudy Flores, the Police Department spokesman.

Police responded to dispatch calls from the California Highway Patrol and were the first to arrive at the scene of the fatal collision involving the pedestrian and a motorcyclist.

"Obviously, this guy was crossing" when he was hit, Flores said, adding that the victim may have been homeless, although that has yet to be determined.

When CHP patrol officers arrived at the scene they found the victim dead, according to the agency. Other drivers may have hit the pedestrian's body and remained at the scene.

The motorcyclist suffered major injuries and was taken to a hospital. Their condition has not been reported.

The eastbound lanes of the freeway were closed for almost an hour, according to police.

A similar accident took place in May of last year when a 50-year-old homeless woman was struck and killed by a car on the freeway ("Homeless Woman Killed Walking on Freeway On-Ramp," May 3, 2021).

In that incident, the victim was walking on the on-ramp to the eastbound freeway at Cloverfield Boulevard.

Homeless individuals have been know to set up encampments near the freeway ramps, local public safety officials have said.