BREAKING NEWS

An unidentified man was in the hospital Friday fighting for his life after being struck by a sport-utility vehicle in Costa Mesa, authorities said.

The unidentified man was in critical condition at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Marty Carver said. An earlier report that he died was erroneous, Carver added.

Police were informed at about 1 p.m. today that the man had died, but after checking with the Orange County Coroner’s office, it turned out the man was still alive. Police are fingerprinting the man in an attempt to identify him.

A woman driving a 2006 Saturn sport-utility vehicle east on Placentia Avenue hit the man around 8:10 p.m. on Thursday as he was crossing the road near Center Street, Carver said. He sustained a serious head injury and was taken to the hospital.

The driver was not arrested or cited. Carver said that the investigation had not turned up evidence that she was being reckless.

“We’re currently more looking at the [pedestrian] for darting out in front of traffic,” he said. “The driver was going 40 in a 40 mph zone.”