Father Held for Leaving Boy in Burning Car

A 1-year-old boy was in extremely critical condition Thursday after he was left in a flaming car by his father, who was suspected of being under the influence of PCP, authorities said.

Kyan Tucker, hospitalized at County-USC Medical Center, suffered smoke inhalation and second- and third-degree burns on his head. The burns covered 35% of his body, authorities said.

His father, Michael Tucker, 32, was arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment and being under the influence of PCP, also known as angel dust.

Detective Norine Plett of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Michael Tucker allegedly left his son in the back seat and climbed out the window of his sports car, parked in the 14800 block of S. San Pedro St. in Willowbrook, after the car’s exhaust system overheated and it caught fire at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday.

About 10 employees of nearby Elro Sign Co. ran out to the street when they saw smoke billowing from the car, said Monique Sherman, a secretary at the firm. “You could hear really loud screaming from inside the car,” she said.

Raul Reyes of Bell, 31, who works in the company’s metal shop, pulled Kyan out of the burning vehicle, a witness said. Other workers tried to put out the fire with water and extinguishers.

Michael Tucker, a respiratory therapist from Gardena, had safely climbed out of the car without telling anyone that his son was still inside, authorities said.

Tucker was arrested at the scene, where he was exhibiting “bizarre behavior,” deputies said. Although no drugs were discovered in his possession, he was given a urine test. Results were not available Thursday, they said.

Deputies said the elder Tucker was separated from his wife and had custody of his son for the day. The father was not hurt and is being held on $20,000 bail.