New Mexico State Police identified the pedestrian killed in an accident on Highway 70 in Las Cruces early Tuesday morning.

The man killed while trying to cross the highway was 77-year-old Daniel Barnes. A family member told KFOX14 Barnes was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. 

Police said Barnes died at the scene near Porter Road.

They identified the driver of a 1994 Toyota 4Runner that struck Barnes as a 50-year-old woman.

Andy Armendariz has lived across the street from Barnes on Hacienda Avenue for 11 years and said Barnes enjoyed walking around the neighborhood, but never saw him on Highway 70.

"It's hard to believe," Armendariz said. "One of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, and all of a sudden he's just gone."

KFOX14 spoke with the husband of the driver who did not want to give his name. He said his wife did not see Barnes on the road until it was too late.

"She had looked down for a minute, something on her console, and she looks back up, and she hit the guy," he said.

He said his wife immediately called 911. He said she was on her way to work at a gas station when the accident happened.

"It's a tragedy for both," he said. "It's something she's going to have to live with now, and they aren't going to have him anymore because of it."

Police have not issued any citations to the driver.