HUDSON – A white, unmarked wooden cross is propped up against a small rock alongside Route 111 at Sullivan Road, where a 38-year-old Hudson man was hit by a car and killed on Saturday night. Police are still investigating the death and urge anyone who might have seen the crash to contact investigators.

Matthew Axelrod, 38, of Hudson, was killed when he was hit by a eastbound Jeep Cherokee, driven by George Bodenrader, 62, of Salem, shortly after 6 p.m. near the intersection of Sullivan Road, police report.

Axelrod’s father confirmed the news by telephone on Monday.

“Devastating’s a good word,” said William Axelrod, 67, of East Peoria, Ill.. “There’s an old saying that says no parent should ever have to outlive a child, and it’s really right.”

The intersection of Route 111 and Sullivan Road is on the far end of Hudson, near the town line of Windham. There is a blinking yellow light to emphasize caution, but the speed limit is posted at 50 miles per hour and, despite wide shoulders, the road is not often traveled by pedestrians.

The Great Eagle Motel is at the right corner of the intersection, but Mike Emin, a resident at the motel, said he thought the incident happened closer to Lawrence Street, which sits across from Sullivan Road. Emin said his son-in-law owns the motel and neither of them had seen anything on Saturday night.

William Axelrod said his son had lived in New Hampshire since the mid 1990s with his wife and two children but later divorced. Matthew Axelrod remained in-state to be near his daughters, his father said.

Matthew Axelrod was a machinist for a Hudson company, but his father did not know which.

William Axelrod said local police in Illinois came to his home on Saturday night and gave him the news. He then called Hudson police and said to his knowledge the investigation is still ongoing.

Anyone with any information on the incident is urged to call Hudson Police at 886-6011.

Cameron Kittle can be reached at 594-6523 or ckittle@nashuatelegraph.com. Andrew Wolfe can be reached at 594-6410 or awolfe@nashuatelegraph.com.