Pedestrian Killed By Cars in Van Nuys Laid Himself on the Road on Purpose

An 18-year-old man was struck by two cars in Van Nuys last night and killed. But he laid himself down on the road intentionally, police say.

Michael Joel Alvarez was hit by two separate vehicles, first a silver, four-door sedan and then a late ’90s brown Honda Accord, on the 15900 block of Victory Boulevard just east of the 405 Freeway at 9:35 p.m. Friday, City News Service reported. A police investigation revealed that Alvarez laid himself in westbound traffic intentionally in an apparent suicide.

Still, after the first car hit Alvarez, the second should have been able to stop in time, LAPD Sgt. Randy Modrell of the Valley Traffic Division said. Both cars paused momentarily before driving off westbound on the street, police said.