Costa Mesa woman dies after jumping from stolen truck in Las Vegas, police say
A Costa Mesa woman was killed when she fell under a stolen truck she had jumped out of as it was pursued by police in Las Vegas this month, according to authorities in Nevada.
The Clark County coroner’s office identified the woman as Maricel Param Menina, 34.
According to Las Vegas police, Menina was riding in a stolen 2007 Ford F-450 utility pickup the morning of April 8.
At 7:13 a.m., the truck’s owner called police to say he was following the truck, authorities said. Police pulled up behind the truck as it stopped at a red light at Cheyenne Avenue at Nellis Boulevard in Las Vegas.
“When the traffic signal turned green, the stolen Ford F-450 accelerated quickly across the intersection and started driving erratically,” police said in a news release.
After the truck made a right turn, a man jumped out the passenger door, followed by a woman later identified as Menina, according to authorities.
The man rolled away from the moving truck and was unhurt, but the woman fell underneath it, police said.
Menina died at the scene from blunt-force trauma to her head and chest, according to the coroner’s office.
After a few moments, the driver also jumped from the still-moving truck, which jumped a curb and crashed into a wall, police said.
The driver tried to run but was apprehended, police said.
Authorities identified him as Joshua Cyran, 31, of Las Vegas. He was arrested on suspicion of grand theft auto, fatal driving under the influence and fatal hit-and-run.
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Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck
