The pedestrian hit and killed by a Metro Transit bus downtown on Wednesday has been identified as a Minneapolis man.

Andrew Morris Beisner, 71, was at the intersection of 2nd Street and 3rd Avenue S. at the beginning of the evening commute when he was struck. The Hennepin County medical examiner's office identified Beisner on Friday, saying he died of multiple blunt force injuries.

The eastbound bus was turning north onto 3rd Avenue off 2nd Street when the collision occurred, said Howie Padilla, spokesman for Metro Transit. A preliminary investigation shows there were no passengers on the bus at the time, he said.

The driver is to be placed on leave pending an investigation and tested for substances, per Metro Transit protocol.

It remains unclear whether Beisner was in the crosswalk when he was hit. A mobility-support walker was taken from the scene by police shortly after the crash.

Transit police and the medical examiner's office are investigating.

Liz Sawyer