Van avoids animal; hits, kills man
Submitted by N.O.V.A.
Times Picayune 	10-28-1998


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A 70-year-old Algiers man, walking to his truck after attending a funeral, died
Tuesday morning after he was hit by a van whose driver was trying to avoid hitting
a dog or cat in the road, authorities said. Ralph Patterson was about to get into
his pickup in the 2800 block of Sullen Place in Algiers when he was hit by the van
being driven by Glynn Hoffman, 51, of Chalmette, New Orleans police spokeswoman
Sgt. Erin Reilly said. The incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. Hoffman was
southbound on Sullen Place when an animal ran out from under a parked car, Reilly
said. He swerved to miss it, lost control of his vehicle and crossed to the
opposite side of the road, where his van hit Patterson, she said. Patterson was
walking to the door of his pickup, which was properly parked on the east side of
Sullen, Reilly said. He had been attending a funeral at a nearby church, she said.
He was hit and pinned between his truck and Hoffman's van, Reilly said. Patterson
was taken to Charity Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later,
Reilly said. A passenger in Patterson's truck, a 61-year-old woman, also was taken
to the hospital as a precaution, Reilly said. She was treated and released.
Hoffman wasn't injured and was not cited at the time of the accident; however,
police will consult the district attorney regarding possible charges, Reilly said.