Support for LAist comes from
Made of L.A.
Stay Connected

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Ice Cream Truck Driver Attacked After Fatally Hitting 7-Year-Old

Support your source for local news!
The local news you read here every day is crafted for you, but right now, we need your help to keep it going. In these uncertain times, your support is even more important. Today, put a dollar value on the trustworthy reporting you rely on all year long. We can't hold those in power accountable and uplift voices from the community without your partnership. Thank you.

An ice cream truck driver was attacked by residents after the truck he was driving fatally struck a 7-year-old on a motorbike in South Los Angeles.Jamarion Thomas was struck by the truck around 7:12 p.m. Wednesday night in the 200 block of East 97th Street, according to City News Service. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died during surgery. Police say that Thomas was holding on to the side of the truck when he lost control, fell off his bike and was hit by the truck. LAPD Sgt. Susie Padilla said, "It's not like the ice cream truck hit him or saw him coming."

The truck driver told police that he and his truck were attacked, CBS Los Angeles reports. Someone pulled a knife on him, he was left bruised and photos from the scene show that his truck's front window had been broken. Padilla said, "He was pretty beat up."

The boy's grandmother Lanora Satterwhite wasn't a witness, but she disputes the police story and says the boy was walking his motorized bike because it wasn't working, according to KTLA.

Charges aren't expected to be filed against the driver.

Most Read