Steven Michael Lecroy, 53, was walking along the northbound lanes of the highway in the rain about 9 p.m. Wednesday when he crossed into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer, Virginia State Police said. The crash happened near mile marker 72.

Lecroy was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he died early Thursday morning, police said.

Police said they aren't sure why Lecroy was walking on the highway. They had gotten a report of a pedestrian on the highway and a trooper was looking for that person when the crash happened, police said.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was not charged.

-- Shawna Morrison