Runaway Van Kills Canoga Park Youth
A 16-year-old Canoga Park boy was killed when a van he was attempting to jump-start from underneath suddenly took off, dragging him several feet before crashing into a brick wall, police said.
The accident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday in an alley near the intersection of Friar Street and Vanalden Avenue in Reseda, said Los Angeles Police Officer Frank Zdroy. The victim, whose identity was withheld pending notification of relatives, was taken to Tarzana Medical Center. He died there a short time later, a hospital spokeswoman said.
No other injuries were reported.
Zdroy said the boy was beneath a 1977 Dodge van trying to jump-start the vehicle when it took off.
“The parking brake was not set and there was a wooden block on the accelerator pedal,” Zdroy said.
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