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Family friends remember 70-year-old veteran fatally struck

Posted at 10:42 PM, Dec 26, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-26 22:42:17-05

RICHMOND, Va. -- Family friends are heartbroken this Christmas holiday after their close friend was the pedestrian hit and killed on Christmas night along Jefferson Davis Highway in Richmond.

"It's been so hard," said Ada Southall, "My daughter lost the best thing she could ever have."

Police said Bernard Gusti was the man killed Friday night.

Southall and others said that Gusti, who went by the name Joe, was on his way to get a birthday card at the Family Dollar for his girlfriend before he died.

Her birthday was Saturday.

"I cried my eyes out, daddy didn't deserve this," said Southall.

Gusti was hit by a Nissan Altima while trying to cross Jefferson Davis Highway.

Richmond Police said he fell to the ground and then was hit by another car while lying in the roadway.

Those close to Gusti said he was a Veteran who would do anything for anyone.

"He was very respectful, he never caused any trouble of anything," said Connie Butler.

Police said it happened a little before 8 p.m. when someone flagged a police officer down in the 3000 block of Jefferson Davis Highway.

The person said a pedestrian had been hit by a car.

Investigators immediately arrived on scene and interviewed drivers and witnesses.

"It's just terrible," said Southall.

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