Car Hits Parked Truck, Killing Boy on Bike

A 9-year-old boy was killed when a car driving the wrong way on an Arleta street crashed head-on into a parked truck, pushing the truck over the youth, Los Angeles police reported.

Ralph Marsh, son of Ralph and Joyce Marsh of Arleta, was sitting on his bicycle behind the truck, watching workers pour a concrete driveway at the time of the 9:10 a.m. accident, Officer Paul Wunderle said.

The 16-year-old driver of the car suffered a minor shoulder injury and was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, Wunderle said. He was later released to his parents pending an investigation.

Wunderle said the 16-year-old appeared to have been speeding and veered into opposing traffic lanes when he took his eyes off the road to push a toy under his seat. The crash occurred on Tonopah Street near Remick Avenue, Wunderle said.