UPDATE: Pedestrian Fatality Was Going To Visit An Aunt

Wednesday evening, Dec. 21, was dark, rainy and dangerous for many drivers, so when a car broke down in the center lane of I-95 near Exit 41 in Orange, the decision to stay inside the car and risk being rear-ended or take a chance at crossing one lane of traffic and making it to a safer place — the exit ramp — was a difficult one for the 61 year old stranded driver.

According to reports, the man got out of his car and safely crossed the highway, but was struck by a car on the exit ramp at around 5:35 p.m.

Orange residents who used the exit immediately after the accident saw the sheet covered body just before state police shut the ramp down for their investigation. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Traffic on I-95 Northbound slowed, but the thruway remained open, the off-ramp, however, was closed for several house.

One Orange official said he'd heard the man was on his way to visit an elderly aunt, for whom he had the Power of Attorney, in a nearby nursing home.