WHITTIER >> Rescuers flew a badly injured man to a trauma center after he was struck by a minivan after running into traffic along Colima Road in Whittier on Thursday afternoon, police said.

The collision took place about 3:45 p.m. along Colima Road, just north of Mar Vista Street, Whittier police Lt. Bryan Ellis said.

Witnesses reported the man, estimated to be in his mid-20s, ran into traffic before being struck by a Honda minivan, the lieutenant said.

Paramedics took the injured man to a nearby baseball diamond, where they landed a helicopter to rush the patient to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, Ellis said.

He remained hospitalized in critical condition with major head injuries Thursday night, Officer John Scoggins said.

The driver of the minivan remained at the scene and was cooperating with police, Ellis said. The minivan was heading south, down a steep hill, when it struck the pedestrian, police said. There was no crosswalk at the collision site.

It was unclear why the man ran into traffic lanes, officials said.

Police shut down Colima Road as they investigated the scene.