KC police release name of pedestrian killed on Watkins Drive

Authorities have identified a 50-year-old pedestrian killed Saturday on Bruce Watkins Drive at 55th Street as Wilbert J. Townsend.

Police were called about 12:30 a.m. to the northbound lanes. Witnesses said Townsend reportedly had been running in an out of traffic when a vehicle hit him and left the scene. Townsend was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident remains under investigation, police said.