7-year-old Jamarion Thomas was recently run over by an ice cream truck outside his home on East 97th Street in South Los Angeles. The boy died shortly after the incident which occurred around 7:10 pm. According to police, the young boy was riding a motorized bike when he was struck by the ice cream truck. He suffered severe injuries which he succumbed to at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. The truck driver suffered minor injuries and was treated at a hospital.
The truck driver was assaulted by neighbors in the South L.A. vicinity where the boy was allegedly hit and killed. According to police, the boy was possibly holding onto the truck when he lost balance and fell under the rear wheels of the truck that was traveling at a mere 5 miles per hour. The boy was therefore being reckless and perhaps did not have a helmet on.
A Tragedy
However, Jamarion’s mother begged to differ. She said her boy was walking across the street and is confused about why the authorities say he was riding a bike. She said she rushed to her boy’s side but it was too late, as his lungs were crushed. According to police sources, the collision was an accident and the driver of the ice cream truck has not been arrested.
The Young Boy was on a Motorized Bike near a Moving Van
The driver alleged that bricks were thrown at his truck and was threatened by someone with a knife. The attack on the truck caused a hole in the windshield. He sought protection at a police station while the police began searching for the mob that attacked the vehicle. A memorial was set up at the scene of the accident with the motorized bike, flowers, candles, and a teddy bear assembled at the site by the boy’s loved ones. Jamarion’s mother is still looking for answers and wishes to speak with the authorities.
Risky Behavior
The ice cream truck is alleged to be operating without a license, which police say, is common in the area. While investigations are in progress, the police have termed the incident as an unfortunate accident and have not anticipated any arrests as yet. LAPD Officer Drake Madison said it was a "horrible accident." Jamarion’s mother, 34-year-old Danisha Mitchell, said he was not riding but pushing his bike and was too small to hold on to the ice cream truck. Other people believe that a 7 year old is not too small to hold onto a car.
Police say the driver of the ice cream truck was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
According to truck accident attorneys, if you or your loved ones are involved in a truck accident it is essential to seek legal help. Attorneys have sound knowledge of the state laws and truck regulations, and play an integral role in obtaining a successful verdict. Trucking companies usually have their own accident response teams that gather to defend any truck accident injury claims you may make, immediately.
Truck accident lawyers say that because of the size of the vehicle, the results can be devastating, as in the case of Jamarion Thomas. Such cases are far more complex than cars and other light vehicles since it involves compliance with truck safety regulations and other industry standards. Most ice cream trucks are normal size vans or small moving vans converted into an ice cream truck. The type of truck in this case is not known.