DETROIT — An apparent high-speed race between two cars on Warren Avenue near Greenfield Road in Detroit near the Dearborn border on Monday left one dead and local residents fearing for their safety after a black SUV collided with a man attempting to cross the street.

The accident happened around 1 p.m. on Warren Avenue near Montrose Street. Detroit police said 77-year-old Lawrence Tulauskas was hit by a speeding Chevy Trailblazer that a witness said was racing a Ford Mustang.

Police said the victim was a home improvement salesman from Royal Oak.

Witness Nasir Elnassiri of Detroit was at a coffee shop nearby with his cousin Ehsan of Dearborn when he saw the accident unfold.

Elnassiri said he saw the victim get out of his car and take about three-four steps while trying to cross the road before he was struck by the Trailblazer, which Elnassiri said was going upwards of 140 mph down Warren. He also said he saw the victim fly up in the air before being hit by other cars and landing “about 200 meters away” from where he was originally hit.

“I’ve been here a month from Virginia and nothing ever happens like this down there,” Nasir Elnassiri said.

Many residents of the area including a large group of Arab Americans said after the accident that they feared such an accident was likely to occur because of the constant street racing on Warren during both night time and in broad daylight.

“We see this a lot of times; people speeding in cars. It’s crazy, I don’t like it,” said Nasir Elnassiri.

The driver of the Trailblazer abandoned his vehicle and removed his license plate before escaping, according to police, who impounded it and are searching it for clues. The second driver sped away from the scene and has not yet been identified.

People with information are asked to call the Detroit Police at 313.596.5600.