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RCMP got calls about hit-and-run victim before he was struck

A 54-year-old man who was killed after a hit-and-run on Saturday night in Cape Breton was spotted walking on Highway 125 shortly before he was hit, say RCMP.

"We had people call 911 to advise that he was there and police were in the process of going out to look for him," Cpl. Glynis Thomas said Monday.

"Unfortunately, prior to getting out there and do anything with him, he was struck."

The man was struck by what's believed to be a grey Volkswagen. Instead of stopping to call 911, the driver kept going. The man was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Man tried to stop vehicles: police

It's unclear, Thomas said, where the man was trying to go before he was hit.

"He was out on the road and apparently he had tried to stop vehicles up on the road but nothing that he was doing that suggests anything more than that going on," Thomas said.

"It is a 100-series highway. It is 100 kilometres per hour out there. It was dark. We had some nasty conditions as well so it really didn't help the situation."

Grey Volkswagen yet to be found

Thomas said the response from the public has been overwhelming and helpful.

Police have received tips about several vehicles matching the description of the one involved in the crash, she said, but so far none have turned out to be the car in question.

Thomas encourages people to keep sharing their tips with police.