Teen killed in skateboarding accident

Police identified the young man killed in a skateboarding accident as 18-year-old John Malvar. Malvar was a senior at Washington-Lee High School.

The accident occurred on the 300 block of S. Highland Street close to 12:30 p.m. According to police, Malvar was skateboarding down the street while hanging onto the side of a pickup truck. The truck was being driven by a 17-year-old male student. The speed of the truck is unknown.

Malvar lost balance and fell to the ground, hitting his head. Malvar was not wearing a helmet and suffered “significant head trauma” that left a large pool of blood on the ground. Malvar was in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived. Medics performed CPR, regained a pulse, and rushed Malvar to George Washington University Hospital in critical condition. Malvar died later that day.

Charges are pending, but reckless driving may be applied to the 17-year-old driving the truck.