STATE COLLEGE - Brock Choate, 24, a former football standout at Loyalsock Township High School, was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle and died after he walked onto Interstate 99 following a one-vehicle crash late Tuesday night, state police at Rockview report.

Choate was a passenger in a 2002 Ford Explorer that crashed along the on-ramp from Innovation Park onto I-99 at around 11 p.m., police said.

The sport-utility vehicle rolled over numerous times before coming to rest on its roof in the median between the ramp and the highway, police said.

Evidence suggests Choate got out of the wrecked vehicle and walked onto the northbound lanes of I-99, where he was struck by an oncoming vehicle causing his fatal injuries, police said.

The vehicle did not stop at the scene and has not yet been identified, police said. Choate then was struck by a second vehicle, which has been identified and is being processed for evidence, police said.

Three other passengers in the SUV were taken to Mt. Nittany Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. Police identified them as Galen Johnson, 34, of Farmington, N.M.; Shane Breaux, 37, of Leport, Texas, and Gary Henderson, 35, of Freeport, Texas.

Police said alcohol was a factor in the crash. The identity of the driver is being held pending further investigation.

Following his senior season at Loyalsock in 2002, Choate was named an Associated Press Small School First-Team All-State selection.

A 6-foot, 5-inch, 270-pound offensive lineman, Choate continued his playing career at the University of Maryland, where he was redshirted and sat out as a freshman.

Upon learning of his all-state selection in December 2002, Choate said in a Sun-Gazette story, "Making all-state was one of my goals at the beginning of the season. I earned it by playing hard."

Choate only began playing football during his freshman year at Loyalsock.

His father, W.J., speaking at the time of his all-state honor, said, "it's a good honor for him, and he's worked hard for it. Basically, for the past two years, he has worked 360 days a year."