The South Carolina man who was struck and killed early Tuesday morning on Interstate 20 in Newton County was driving a car registered to a dead Alabama man, authorities said.

According to Georgia State Patrol, William Clark Hildreph, 44, from South Carolina lost control of his Chevrolet Impala while traveling east on I-20. He collided with the median wall, causing his vehicle to spin around and come to rest facing west in the eastbound lanes.

When Hildreph exited his vehicle to cross lanes of traffic on foot, he was hit by a red or burgundy SUV. The driver of the SUV fled the scene, said GSP spokesman Gordy Wright.

Upon further investigation, officers discovered Hildreph was driving an Impala that belonged to a 57-year-old man in Haleyville, Ala. That man, Danny Joe Baxter, was found dead in his home early this week.

The Haleyville police chief told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that investigators are determining the cause of Baxter's death.

GSP officials are still looking for the driver of the SUV and encourage anyone with information to contact GSP at (770) 464-1800 or (706) 210-2050.