A 16-year-old has died after he fell from the roof of a moving car last week in Thompson Park.
Amarillo police identified the victim as Johnny Joe Lozano.
On Oct. 19 at 9:33 p.m., officers responded to reports of a collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. Officers learned that Lozano and two other teenagers were riding on the exterior of a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer in the 100 block of west Horseshoe Lane.
According to authorities, the 17-year-old driver of the car had applied the breaks and Lozano was thrown from the roof of vehicle.
Lozano suffered a head injury and was taken to a hospital by private car but was met by an ambulance sent to meet them. He died from his injuries on Thursday.
No one else involved in the incident was injured.
Sgt. Brent Barbee said the teens appeared to be intentionally riding on the exterior of the car for fun.
“I can’t stress strongly enough how dangerous this is,” Barbee said. “I see it depicted on television like it’s harmless behavior and it’s not.”
Potter County Justice of the Peace Gary Jackson ordered an autopsy, and the incident is being investigated by the APD Traffic Investigation Squad.
No charges have been filed and there is no indication that alcohol was a factor in the incident, police said.
Barbee said that this is the 23rd traffic fatality to occur in Amarillo this year.
Story provided by Amarillo Globe News. Amarillo Police Department also reports on this story.
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