The victim is a Romanian man who a friend says walked seven miles to and from work every day. That's what he was doing when he was hit and killed along FM 2854 near Loop 336.
On store surveillance video, you can see 67-year-old Stephano Dubei in his blue work uniform, picking up a pack of cigarettes and a lotto ticket at a gas station before continuing his daily walk to work. His co-worker, who didn't want to be identified, said he warned Dubei the walk was dangerous.
"We have warned him at times, hey, you need to be either on the other side or wear something bright so people see you. By the time you see him, he's already a couple of feet away from you," said the victim's friend.
Dubei's daily trek from his apartment along I-45 all the way to his work on the western edge of Conroe was well-known to local police. Occasionally they would offer him a ride. But often, like he did Tuesday morning at the Chevron, friends say the Romanian immigrant would refuse the ride. That choice proved to be deadly.
At around 5:15am, Dubei was less than a mile from his work place when he was hit by a driver going west.
"The roadway evidence leads us to believe that he (driver) didn't stay in his lane, he was driving partially on the shoulder and a pedestrian was walking on the shoulder, and he was struck and did not survive," said Sgt. Robert Engel with the Conroe Police Department.
Investigators say the driver stopped, complied with all instructions, and was not under the influence of alcohol.
Friends say they'll remember Dubei as a hard worker committed to sending his earnings to his family in Romania and committed to a daily seven-mile trek.
"He definitely was a great guy. He had a great heart and everything. He tried to get along with everybody. Knowing his age and everything, people would try to adjust to him and realize how he was very humble and loving," said the victim's friend.
A grand jury will have to decide whether charges will be filed against the driver.
