Santa Monica Teen Killed in Moped Crash

A 16-year-old boy on a moped died when he ran a red light and collided with a vehicle at a Santa Monica intersection, police reported today. Leonardo Castillo of Santa Monica died at a hospital of injuries he suffered about 9 p.m. Sunday at 26th Street and Olympic Boulevard. The teen’s passenger, a 20-year-old man whose name was not released, was hospitalized in serious condition, police said.

Lt. Richard Lewis of the Santa Monica Police Department said the boy was northbound on 26th Street and entered the intersection on a red light. The driver of a vehicle going west on Olympic was unable to avoid striking the moped, he said.

The driver, a 73-year-old man, remained at the scene, and investigators determined he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Lewis said. The motorist, whose name was withheld, was released pending further investigation.

Anyone with information about the collision was asked to call investigator Jason Olson at (310) 458-8954 or Sgt. Philbo Rubish at (310) 458- 8950.

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City News Service