Homeless man hit and killed by an SUV after jumping into traffic, police say

A homeless man was seen diving into traffic in Costa Mesa on Sunday evening until an SUV struck and killed him, according to police.

Police said witnesses saw the 34-year-old man crouching and hiding behind shrubs on a median along West 19th Street near Pomona Avenue, then leaping in front of moving vehicles, police said.

When a Chevrolet Tahoe traveling west along 19th Street approached at about 5 p.m., the man jumped in front of it and was hit, police said.

“The SUV ran over the male pedestrian in front of Rio’s Pawn Shop, located at 710 W. 19th St.,” police said in a news release.

The Orange County coroner’s office identified the man as Joseph Warhol. Police said he was a local transient who originally lived in Idaho.

Warhol suffered major injuries to his head and torso, and paramedics took him to a trauma center in Santa Ana, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The 43-year-old woman who was driving the SUV was not hurt in the crash, authorities said. She stayed at the scene and did not appear to be impaired, police said.

Police asked that anyone with information about the crash contact traffic investigator Darren Wood at (714) 754-5264.