4-Year-Old Boy’s Death Triggers Driver’s Beating

A 4-year-old boy was struck and killed by a tow-truck driver in South-Central Los Angeles Saturday afternoon, prompting an attack on the driver, police said.

As Frederick “Buddy” Allen rode his scooter along Avalon Boulevard near Century Boulevard, he was hit by Candelario Flores as the driver turned into a fast-food restaurant parking lot about 4 p.m., police said.

After realizing he had hit something, Flores stopped, police said. But before he got out, two men pulled him from his truck as one yelled, “You just killed the kid,” witnesses told police.

The men began hitting the 38-year-old man as a crowd of at least 50 onlookers--including distraught relatives--gathered, police said. Police arrived within minutes, dispersing the crowd quickly. No arrests were made and no other injuries or property damage was reported.

“[The men] were agitated . . . and immediately began to beat up on the driver,” said LAPD Sgt. R.L. Johnson.

Flores was taken to Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries to the face and mouth. He was listed in serious, but not life-threatening, condition late Saturday, hospital officials said.

Frederick, who was to start preschool Monday, was with his 13-year-old cousin when the truck’s back tires ran over him. Authorities said Frederick sustained massive trauma injuries and died at the scene.

“It came out of nowhere and hit him,” said Marcus Savage, who was only a few steps behind his cousin.

Savage ran to his home a few blocks away to tell his mother, who broke the news to Frederick’s parents.

“I can’t hold my baby anymore,” said Frederick’s mom, Yvette Allen.

Family members said Frederick had a great sense of humor and was eager to start school at 99th Street Elementary.

“Every day was April Fools’ Day for Buddy,” said his grandfather, Harold Holmes. “He sure did like a good joke.”

Flores worked for Kelmark Tow, a private company that handles towing and runs a garage for the Los Angeles Police Department. General Manager Jon Nissley said the company’s drivers had not been involved in an accident in five years.

‘ “We are very deeply saddened that a young boy lost his life,” he said.

Nissley declined to say how long Flores had worked for the company.

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Times staff writer Jose Cardenas contributed to this story.