Aug 12, 2008 3:01 pm US/Pacific
Skateboarder, 14, Will Be Taken Off Life-Support
MISSION VIEJO
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Nathan "rode out into the path of an oncoming" Dodge Durango driven by 25-year-old Johnny Perez, an Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman said. Perez was "deemed not to be at fault" for the accident, but he was arrested for alleged misdemeanor DUI.
CBS
A 14-year-old skateboarder who was struck by an SUV when he veered between two parked cars will be taken off life-support Tuesday at Children's Hospital of Orange County at Mission.
Nathan Gonzalez has been in critical condition in the intensive pediatric ward since he was struck Sunday evening near Los Alisos Boulevard while skateboarding with a group of friends. KCAL 9's Michele Gile reported that the victim's family plans to say their final goodbyes to Nathan and take him off life-support Tuesday afternoon.
Denise Almazan of CHOC could not immediately confirm broadcast reports that the boy might be removed from life-support later Tuesday.
Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department said Nathan "rode out into the path of an oncoming" Dodge Durango driven by 25-year-old Johnny Perez.
Perez was "deemed not to be at fault" for striking the boy, but he was arrested for alleged misdemeanor DUI, Amormino said.
Nathan was skateboarding with friends on the sidewalk when he came to the end and went into the street, officials said. He was thrown about 40 feet when he was struck by the SUV, the Orange County Register reported.
Aaron Saenz was behind Nathan, and told the newspaper that he saw the vehicle and yelled for Nathan to stop, but he was facing away from the vehicle.
The boy was not wearing a helmet, according to reports.
Perez, who lives in the neighborhood, came back to the scene with his wife and children, and was described as being in total shock, the newspaper reported.
Nathan's friend, Duke Lopez, told KCAL9 that the two were lifelong friends.
"We were skateboarding down a hill and he was like saying, `Duke, you know, you're like a brother to me,"' Duke told Channel 9.
Given the chance to talk to his friend again, Duke said he would tell Nathan "that I love him. He's my brother."
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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