Man struck by several vehicles, dies

SHELBY, N.Y. (WIVB) - Four vehicles struck and killed a man Tuesday morning, in Orleans County. Investigators are trying to figure out why the victim was walking in the road.

The 47-year-old man, from Medina, was hit four times by  four different drivers. Tuesday afternoon, none of those drivers are facing charges.

Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies were called around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday.  Joseph Tillinghast was hit by a car, while walking along Route 31 in the Town of Shelby. Deputies say Tillinghast was first hit by a man from Lockport, and then several other drivers after that.

All four drivers stayed at the scene and were cooperative with police. Tillinghast had been walking alone, along the dark, wet road. He was walking from Middleport to Medina, where he lived.

Tillinghast had been at his brother’s house, deputies say, prior to the accident. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Orleans County Undersheriff Steven Smith said, “After the individual was struck initially, it appears he was run over by two or three additional vehicles.”

Smith said, “He was lying in the traffic lane after he was struck and he was unfortunately struck by an additional two or three vehicles.”

Tillinghast's body was taken to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester, for an autopsy. It's unclear right now if the Medina man had been drinking or using drugs.

None of the four drivers involved had been using drugs or alcohol.