LOS ANGELES, CA – The LA Times reports that 58-year-old Arturo Franco Melendez was volunteering at a food drive when he died in a freak accident on Friday afternoon. The accident happened at a church parking lot at the intersection of Glenoaks Boulevard and El Casco Street.
The volunteer was loading food into the trunk of a vehicle when the driver of the Ford Expedition SUV behind him suddenly drove forward and pinned the man between the two cars. The victim was transported to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
Los Angeles Police say that the driver of the SUV intended to brake but accidentally hit the throttle instead. The driver, a 77-year-old man, stayed at the scene and complied with the police. According to CBS Los Angeles, police said that the elderly driver was distraught over the accident and that no crime had been committed.
Los Angeles Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez said she plans to introduce new on-site safety traffic measures because of the incident.