Man who hit pedestrian in car crash thought he was a deer

A pedestrian who appeared to walk directly into traffic Saturday night in Crystal Falls Township is recovering from what police describe as non-life threatening injuries.

Deputies from the Iron County Sheriff’s Office say it happened around 10:00 p.m. when Jamie Metheringham was driving westbound on U.S. 2 near Takala Road. Police say Metheringham saw what he believed to be a deer in the middle of the road and began to slow down. Metheringham said that he soon realized it was a person and attempted to avoid hitting them. That person was John Leppiaho, who appeared to have stepped into westbound traffic before being struck by Metheringham’s vehicle. Deputies believe Leppiaho had a medical condition that caused him to walk into the path of Metheringham. No citations were issued in the incident.

Leppiaho was transferred by Northstar EMS to Northstar Hospital shortly after the crash for non-life threatening injuries.

Deputies were assisted at the crash scene by the Michigan State Police and several Iron County Medicare employees who were changing shifts and came upon the crash.