The Barton County Sheriff’s Office has released more information about the death of an Olmitz man who was hit by a semi-trailer as he walked along U.S. 56 on Wednesday.

Joshua Ratzlaff, 24, was hit by the semi around 11:48 p.m. He was just west of Dundee, about eight miles from Great Bend.

Scene investigation has shown Ratzlaff was struck in the middle of the road as the driver was attempting to swerve around him. It is still unknown why he was in the roadway.

Around 4 a.m. Thursday, authorities found Ratzlaff’s vehicle, which had gone into a ditch and hit a culvert near the edge of the town.

Barton County 911 had received a call around 9:30 p.m. reporting a man walking along U.S. 56 in the Pawnee Rock area. Another call was received around 11:10 p.m. in reference to the same individual; this person was later picked up in Pawnee County by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office and taken to Larned. Those calls were not associated with Ratzlaff.

The fatality accident report will be forwarded to the Barton County Attorney for review.