Man, 30, Struck and Killed Crossing Street

NORTH HOLLYWOOD — A 30-year-old man was struck by a utility vehicle and killed instantly early Saturday after he tried to dash across a street while carrying a 12-pack of beer, police said.

The accident occurred about 12:45 a.m. on Burbank Boulevard at Fulcher Avenue. The victim, Juventino Rauda of North Hollywood, had just come from a corner convenience store when he apparently ran into the crosswalk and was hit by the vehicle, said Officer Norman Nagengast of the LAPD’s Valley Traffic Bureau.

Nagengast said the driver slammed on his breaks to avoid hitting Rauda, but skidded and collided with him.

Rauda was pronounced dead at the scene. A preliminary coroner’s investigation listed the cause of death as multiple injuries.

Since there is no traffic signal at the crosswalk, a pedestrian has the right-of-way, Nagengast said. But the driver may not have had enough time to yield before Rauda darted into the street, Nagengast said.

Detectives need to investigate further before deciding whether to seek criminal charges against the driver, he said.