Van Nuys driver crushed by his own vehicle in deadly clash with bicyclist, police say

Police are investigating a fight between a bicyclist and a motorist in Van Nuys over the weekend that ended with the cyclist stealing the motorist’s vehicle and fatally crushing him with it before making his escape, authorities said.

The incident unfolded about 9:50 p.m. Sunday as the motorist, 37-year-old Andrew Patsukevich, and his wife were heading north in the 7400 block of Sepulveda Boulevard and the cyclist was going south, the LAPD said in a news release.

As the two passed each other in slow traffic, Patsukevich honked at the cyclist, who responded by slamming his fist into the car’s windshield, sparking a physical confrontation, police said.

The driver got out of the car, and the man on the bike punched him in the face before jumping into the car and hitting the accelerator, police said. Patsukevich’s wife jumped out of the car, but her husband held on to his door as the vehicle sped forward, police said.

With Patsukevich still clinging to the door, the carjacker steered the vehicle into a row of parked cars, crushing the man, and then drove away, investigators said.

Paramedics rushed Patsukevich to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. His car, a green 2001 Lexus LS 430, was found Tuesday, said Det. Steve Castro.

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UPDATES:

2:05 p.m.: This article was updated with the identity of the victim and that his car was found.

This article was originally published at 7:55 a.m.