Police identify I-380 crash victim, ask for public's help

UPDATE: Police have identified the pedestrian who was killed on Interstate 380 early Saturday morning as William Benest, 44, of Cedar Rapids.

Benest was found in the northbound lanes of the interstate just north of Glass Road NE after he was struck by at least two vehicles around 1 a.m. Saturday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“He just came out of nowhere,” Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said. “The (initial) driver swerved, but he did not go off the roadway.”

Police are not sure why Benest was on the interstate, or where he had been before the incident. Hamblin said Benest was among relatives at a family event Friday night in Cedar Rapids. He left around 10 p.m., and was found on the interstate about three hours later.

There were no stalled vehicles in the area, police said.

Names of the drivers whose vehicles struck Benest were not immediately released.

Anyone who was around the I-380 interchange at Glass Road/32nd Street around the time of the incident is asked to call the Cedar Rapids police traffic bureau at (319) 286-5356.

EARLIER COVERAGE -- Aug. 14: Pedestrian struck, killed on I-380 in Cedar Rapids