Law enforcement officers are looking for the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a Pascagoula man Saturday morning in Jefferson County and fled the scene.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol received a call about 10:30 a.m. about a pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle in a rural stretch of Hwy. 553, said Cpl. Brandon Fortenberry.

The pedestrian was identified as Johnny Lee Beverly, 25, of Pascagoula. Fortenberry said it appears that Beverly was walking on the northbound side and was struck by an unidentified vehicle that was traveling south on Hwy. 553. “The vehicle in question crossed over the center line coming into contact with Beverly,” he said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Troopers have reason to believe the man was hit about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

Fortenberry said two witnesses who live near the area told troopers they heard what sounded like an accident early that morning. “When they went to check, there was no one around,” he said.

Jefferson County Sheriff Peter Walker said the area where the man was hit is between Fayette and Harriston. He said a disabled vehicle has not been located in the area and investigators have not determined why he was walking on Hwy. 553.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 601-786-3403 or Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop M in Brookhaven at 601-833-7811.