DDN – A man murdered in a hit-and-run in Cumberland County on Monday night may have been walking to acquire petrol for his pickup vehicle, according to officials.

The incident on N.C. 24 east of Fayetteville was reported shortly before 7:10 p.m. Monday, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Anthony Hobbs, 50, drove a pickup truck with crosses on it, which some Fayetteville residents recognized.
Hobbs left his pickup truck on N.C. 24 near Interstate 95 after telling others he had run out of petrol, according to the highway patrol.

Hobbs was walking west toward Fayetteville in the middle of a lane at Downing Road when he was hit by a car and killed, North Carolina Trooper McBride said Tuesday.

The driver of the car escaped. McBride claimed at least one additional automobile hit Hobbs after he was down, and the driver did not stop.

“I don’t know why he was walking in the middle of the road,” she stated.

Troopers said they had no clues on what type of vehicle struck Hobbs, who did not appear to have a set address.

The N.C. Department of Transportation said that westbound N.C. 24 toward Fayetteville was closed for almost three hours Monday night as officials investigated the incident.

Reference: Man killed in NC hit-and-run was walking after possibly running out of gas, officials say