Boy, 8, Killed as Car Hits Truck at 85 M.P.H.

A car traveling an estimated 85 m.p.h. struck the rear of a pickup truck slowing for a stop sign in Lancaster on Monday, killing an eight-year-old boy in the pickup and injuring the boy’s father and sister, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported. The car’s driver, who suffered minor injuries, fled but was arrested by deputies who found him hiding in a housing tract, authorities said.

Ryan Petterson, of Lancaster, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 2 a.m. collision at the intersection of 20th Street East and Avenue J. The pickup was struck from behind by a car driven by John Coffin, 28, of Simi Valley, which caused the pickup to roll end-over-end and flip sideways several times, Deputy Dennis Diederich said.

Petterson’s sister and and his father, who was driving the car, suffered minor injuries, Diederich said.

Coffin drove off but deputies aided by search dogs found him and he was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, Diederich said. Coffin was jailed in lieu of $12,500 bail,