Los Angeles: On Sunday, October 6, 2002, at approximately 9:05 a.m., a fatal auto vs. pedestrian traffic collision occurred in an alley near Sepulveda Street and Pacific Avenue in the Harbor Area.

The collision occurred when 5 year-old Julio Alejandro Ramirez, of Los Angeles, fell off his skateboard in the alley, and was run over by a passing 1978 Chevy Custom pick-up truck. The truck, which was being driven by Luis Alberto Ruiz, 52 years of San Pedro, was travelling eastbound in the alley at a low rate of speed when the collision occurred.

According to a witness, he and another man, were standing in the alley when Ruiz’s truck approached from the west. When he reached the witnesses location, Ruiz stopped his truck and spoke to them. At the same time, the witnesses observed Ramirez standing on a skateboard approximately thirty feet to the east swinging his hips from side to side while holding onto a iron fence. After finishing his conversation with the witnesses, Ruiz proceeded eastbound in the alley at a low rate of speed. When Ruiz’s truck reached Ramirez’s location, Ramirez’s skateboard slipped out from underneath his feet causing his legs to land in front of Ruiz’s passing truck. Not knowing or seeing that Ramirez had just fallen down in front of his truck, Ruiz continued travelling eastbound running over Ramirez’s legs. The subsequent impact caused Ramirez’s upper body and head to spin underneath the truck, which resulted in a secondary impact of the truck’s rear wheels with Ramirez’s head. Immediately upon realizing he had run over Ramirez, Ruiz immediately stopped his truck.

Paramedics responded to the scene, and transported Ramirez to Harbor UCLA General Hospital for the massive head and body trauma he sustained. Failing to respond to emergency medical treatment, Ramirez was pronounced dead at 9:40 a.m.

LAPD South Traffic investigation revealed no evidence to show that alcohol or drugs were a factor in the cause of the collision. The follow-up investigation has been assigned to South Traffic Division Detective Kathryn Henderson.

Anyone with additional information regarding this collision is urged to contact South Traffic Detectives, 323-290-6063. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24- hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL 1-877-529-3855.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jack Richter, Media Relation Section, 213-485-3586.