Irvine Boy, 14, Brain Dead After Being Struck by Car

A 14-year-old bicyclist struck by a driver who allegedly ran a stop sign was pronounced brain dead Wednesday, Irvine police said.

David Leidal of Irvine suffered major head trauma when he was struck by a 1974 Volkswagen “Bug” while riding his bike to school at 7:38 a.m. Tuesday.

Leidal, a University High School freshman, was pronounced brain dead at 10:08 a.m. at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, said Irvine Police Sgt. Mike Ogden, who is in charge of the accident investigation. Ogden said some of Leidal’s organs were being maintained for possible transplant.

Ogden said investigators will decide by the beginning of next week if they have evidence to bring manslaughter and gross negligence charges against the 17-year-old driver, a Woodbridge High School senior whose name is not being released because of his age.

“We have statements by witnesses and physical evidence to show that a stop sign violation did occur,” Ogden said. “We will try to determine from physical evidence what his speed was at the time he drove through the stop sign, to see if it will, therefore, amount to gross negligence (charges).”

The posted speed limit in the area is 25 m.p.h., he said.

Ogden also said if there is enough evidence, charges will be brought against the teen-ager.

The accident occurred when the driver and five teen-age passengers were traveling east on Michelson Drive toward Yale Avenue. Leidal was bicycling south on Yale when the car struck his cycle broadside. He and his bike were catapulted nearly 90 feet.