Jun. 12--ATKINSON -- An Atkinson man is in critical condition after being hit by a truck while jogging on East Road Wednesday night.

Police were called to East Road near Coventry Road after the back end of a black Chevy pickup truck driven by William Melanson, 40, of Hampstead struck the Atkinson man, according to Lt. William Baldwin.

The road is a well-traveled street in a residential area. There's little to no shoulder.

Police said they would not release the name of the man until his family had been notified. They had not done so late yesterday afternoon and did not expect to until today, Baldwin said.

Melanson was driving north on East Road when his vehicle was hit by a white Ford Thunderbird driven by Richard Testa, 27, of Milford, according to Baldwin. Testa was heading south when he crossed the yellow line and struck Melanson's truck, according to Baldwin.

Police called for a medical helicopter to bring the jogger to a Boston area hospital, but it wasn't able to land because of the weather, Baldwin said. Instead, the man was taken by ambulance to Lawrence General Hospital.

He was in critical but stable condition yesterday afternoon, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Baldwin said police are still investigating the crash and may file criminal charges.

Anyone with information on the crash should contact the Atkinson Police Department at 362-4001.

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