Former boxing champion Pernell Whitaker dies after being hit by vehicle

Former world champion and Olympic gold medalist Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker died after a vehicle struck him at an intersection Sunday night in Virginia Beach, Va.

The legendary boxer was 55 years old.

"When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male victim who had been hit by a vehicle," a police spokesperson said in a statement obtained by ESPN's Dan Rafael. "The victim succumbed to his injuries on the scene. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene with police."

Whitaker made his name in the ring throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He captured a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and went on to win world titles in four different weight classes.

The southpaw was known for his immaculate defense. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.

"I guess he was wearing dark clothes, the road was dark, and the driver didn't see him," his youngest son, Devon, told The Virginian-Pilot.

He described his father as a "cool guy."

"That's all I can say about him," he said. "I can't really say how I'm feeling because I'm feeling shocked. I'm still trying to process everything that's going on. But he was a cool guy."

Whitaker won 40 of his first 42 professional fights. He retired in 2001 with a record of 40-4-1 along with one no-contest.