Man dies after walking into 18-wheeler overnight

At the risk of sounding too preachy, you really should watch where you're going — especially when you're doing something that takes concentration. Case in point: the poor man who was run over and killed by an 18-wheeler last night when he walked into the side of the truck while lighting a cigarette.

It happened around 9:15 p.m. at Lawndale and Central, where police say the tanker truck was turning a corner. As the driver turned, he saw the victim, 36-year-old Mack Herbert Vance III, walking toward the truck with his head down, lighting a cigarette — and Vance walked right into the side of the truck, fell back and was crushed and killed by the wheels. The police say it was a tragic accident and that no charges will be filed against the truck driver, who the Chronicle reports was so upset by the incident that he "wept and vomited at the scene."

Vance, who is survived by a pregnant wife, had reportedly been dropped off by a friend near his workplace, which apparently explains why he was out walking at the time.