San Diego

A 51-year-old construction worker was killed early Monday when he ran from the center divider into traffic on westbound Interstate 8 and was struck by a car and a tractor-trailer, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The victim, Johnny Vindiola of El Cajon had just escaped the grasp of CHP officers when he ran out into traffic just west of the Interstate 805 on-ramp and tried to get hit, the spokesman said.

The CHP received a radio call at 5:18 a.m. that a car was parked in the center divider, facing the wrong way. When officers arrived, Vindiola was standing outside his car, the spokesman said.

The officers persuaded Vindiola to come to them but, soon after he was grabbed, Vindiola struggled free and ran out into the early-morning traffic, the spokesman said. CHP officers said they knew no motive for what they described as a suicide. The woman driving the car that first hit Vindiola told CHP officers she tried to avoid hitting him, but he moved in front of her.