A tow operator who was killed after he was hit by a vehicle on New Year's Eve in Spring Valley has been identified as a 62-year-old El Cajon man.

CHP responded to reports of a collision between a vehicle and pedestrian at around 8 p.m. Sunday on southbound State Route 125, just south of Jamacha Road.

The pedestrian was a 62-year-old tow truck operator, identified Monday by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office as Dale Alan Pumphrey, who was on the shoulder loading a car onto his flatbed truck, according to the CHP.

Pumphrey was hit by a Toyota Prius driven by a 60-year-old man, the CHP said. The Prius driver veered out of his lane — the reason is still being investigated by the CHP — and hit the rear end of Pumphrey's tow truck, then hit Pumphrey, who died at the scene despite life-saving efforts from first responders.