A local pastor was fatally struck by a car in Stratford.

The incident happened on Lordship Boulevard Thursday night. Friends and family say Pastor Leverne Murphy was struck by a car around 11 p.m. while crossing the street to get a snack at the Shell station.

Police say Murphy was transported to the hospital, where he later died. No charges have yet been filed against the driver. Witnesses say the driver who hit Murphy stayed on the scene until police arrived.

Friends say Murphy lived nearby and had recently suffered a stroke. Murphy worked with Time For Change Ministries in Bridgeport, teaching classes for men struggling with drug addiction.

Murphy's sister believes the low visibility and lack of speed limit signs at the location were a factor.

Dr. Josiah Israel worked with Murphy at Time For Change Ministries. Israel says Murphy was in a vulnerable position.

"Pastor Murphy was an older man, and walking down a dark street that should have had some type of light," he says. 

Witnesses who live in the area say the section of Lordship Boulevard is a dangerous place to be a pedestrian.

"There has to be some type of indication of how fast you're supposed to be going, and you have to light up the area. If you can't see, you can't see," one person told News 12.