BRADENTON -- A pedestrian was struck and injured by a Bradenton police car while trying to walk across State Road 64 early Thursday, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

About 12:45 a.m., the victim, who had been involved in an earlier traffic crash that was blocking the eastbound inside lane, was trying to walk across the highway east of 48th Street Court East, when he was struck by the marked patrol car. The officer tried unsuccessfully to avoid hitting the pedestrian, according to FHP.

The victim was taken to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton with serious injuries, according to FHP.