Douglas Burrows; Free-Lance Photographer for The Times

Douglas R. Burrows, a 29-year-old free-lance photographer who worked extensively for the Los Angeles Times and Newsweek magazine, was killed Saturday when his Toyota Celica was broadsided by an 18-wheeler on a downtown street.

Friends and family said it was ironic and sad that Burrows--whose penchant for being where the action was drew him to photograph gang members and the Los Angeles riots--died in an accident on a quiet city street.

“During the riots last year, he went out and bought a flak jacket at an Army surplus store,” said John Burrows, his father. “He got his car smashed up, but he got his pictures.”

On the day he died, Burrows had turned down an assignment from The Times, saying he needed to run errands in preparation for moving into a house he had just bought in Highland Park.

Larry Armstrong, director of photography for The Times, said Burrows was often first at the scene of a news event, most recently covering the shooting deaths of two Compton police officers. Burrows’ father said he was first on the scene at the massive fire at the First Interstate Bank Building in 1988.

“He was high energy, always had a smile on his face, always on the move,” Armstrong said.

According to his father, Burrows’ optimism was born out of struggle. The photographer--the second of three sons--was born with a cleft palate and had more than 30 operations as a child to straighten it out.

“He worked so hard to achieve,” John Burrows said. “I had three sons. One was a lawyer, one a stockbroker, but I tell you, Doug was the one who really excelled. He worked so hard. He came from so far back.”

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the accident. The driver of the truck, apparently unhurt, fled on foot and is being sought as a felony hit-and-run suspect, said Detective Matthew Kuckowicz. He said Burrows died instantly in the crash at the intersection of East 9th Street and Stanford Avenue in downtown Los Angeles.

Besides his father, Burrows is survived by his mother, Barbara, and his brothers, Scott and Matthew.