WESTMINSTER : Man Trying to Run Across Freeway Dies

An 18-year-old Arizona man was struck and killed by a car Thursday night when he ran across the San Diego Freeway, the California Highway Patrol said.

Dion W. Larson, of Pearson, Ariz., was pronounced dead at the scene of the 9:15 p.m. accident near the Beach Boulevard off-ramp, CHP Capt. Dave Helsel said.

Larson and a 17-year-old friend had arrived in California four weeks ago to look for jobs, Helsel said. They had been staying at a local motel.

The two decided to go to the Huntington Center Mall across the freeway, but instead of walking via the Beach Boulevard underpass, they ran onto the freeway, Helsel said.

Larson had reached the car-pool lane on the northbound side when he was struck, the CHP said.

The impact threw him over the center divider into the southbound lanes, Helsel said.

When Larson was hit, his friend, who was not identified, ran to the shoulder of the freeway, then sprinted back to the center divider to help Larson. The friend was not injured, Helsel said.

Larson was pronounced dead of head and internal injuries at the scene by Westminster fire paramedics, Helsel said. The driver was not cited.