Illinois Man Hit by Police Car, Dies

A 21-year-old Illinois man was struck and fatally injured by a Huntington Beach police car early Thursday morning when he ran onto Beach Boulevard and into the path of the vehicle, police said.

Kurt Kline of Arlington Heights, Ill., died of head injuries at Fountain Valley Community Hospital at 3:55 a.m., Lt. Tom Patton said. Patton said the accident occurred at 3:12 a.m. and that Officers Daniel J. Johnson, 32, who was driving, and Dale Hitzeman, 24, administered first aid at the scene and called paramedics.

Johnson and Hitzeman were responding to a call about a fight. The officers were driving north on Beach Boulevard approaching Cypress Avenue, where they were going to make a U-turn to the business, which is on the west side of Beach, when the accident occurred.

Sgt. Jeff Cope said Kline, who was visiting relatives in the area, ran into the street and was hit by the front bumper of the car, which was traveling at 20 to 25 m.p.h.