Man Killed in Freeway Confrontation

A Canoga Park man who police said was on the verge of landing his first major documentary film project was run down and killed late Saturday after confronting a carload of youths throwing eggs at his jeep.

Michael Craven, 44, was pronounced dead at Cedars Sinai Hospital in West Hollywood about 1:50 a.m. Sunday after suffering internal injuries when he was struck by a sport utility vehicle, Los Angeles Police Det. Vince Bancroft said.

“His career was just taking off,” Bancroft said. “To have it wiped out over a dozen eggs on his car, it’s a shame. It’s too bad he didn’t have another plan in mind.”

Though the exact cause of the apparent road-rage killing was not known, witnesses reported occupants in a new black Chevy Suburban were throwing eggs at Craven’s jeep as the cars were driving southbound on the Ventura Freeway near Barham Boulevard shortly before 11 p.m.

At one point, Craven tried to block the Suburban’s path in the slow lane and then got out of his jeep, Bancroft said.

Witnesses said, “He got out and started to walk toward the Suburban, and when he was dead center on the hood, the driver hit the gas and drove directly over him,” Bancroft said.

Bancroft said police were seeking at least two suspects--the driver of the Suburban and a passenger.

“[The driver’s] reasoning may be he was momentarily scared, but at this point he has to get in touch with us,” Bancroft said. “He has to face what happened.”

Authorities are looking for a black Suburban, with all tinted windows and a dealer placard, which may have sustained damage to its front end. Detectives also recovered an egg carton that may have been thrown from the vehicle during the incident.

Craven had come to Los Angeles from Louisville, Ky., to pursue a career in documentary filmmaking. He ran Michael Craven Productions from his Canoga Park home, amid video editing equipment and volumes of books on history and government, police said.

Family members told detectives that Craven, who is survived locally by his ex-wife and his 18-year-old son, was on the verge of his big break, getting funding for a project on the history of money.