Several people watched in horror as a man was struck and killed by a car on a busy District street, shutting down Connecticut Avenue near Nebraska Avenue for hours Wednesday afternoon.

The incident happened shortly after noon. The pedestrian, described as an older man, crossed the street and was struck and killed by a white Dodge Neon, police say.

D.C police raced to the scene as witnesses were traumatized by the gruesome scene.

Witness, Jeff Earley, said the man had just followed him out of a nearby bank, and then he "heard a thump."

Some early reports indicated the man may have not crossed in a crosswalk. "I'd say it's safe to assume the guy was jay walking because he was clearly not in the cross walk," said John Conner, a witness.

The driver of the Neon stayed on the scene to talk to police. "He said, basically, 'I killed a man' and said he was just right in front of the car and that was it," said Mark Freeman, an acquaintance of the driver.

The disturbing image of today's event have some rethinking how they cross the street.

"Unfortunately, I do cross this street quite a bit outside the cross walk, I'll think twice about doing that again after what i saw today," said Bill Cook, a witness.

Authorities say the incident  closed Connecticut Avenue for several hours. Police are investigating whether the man was in a crosswalk when he was struck.

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