Elderly man killed by wrong-way teenage joyrider

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A 77-year-old man was killed early Thursday when the car he was driving on a Mission Beach-area thoroughfare was struck by a sport- utility vehicle being driven the wrong way in reverse by a teenage boy out on a joyride with friends.

James Cummins of Point Loma was westbound in the 500 block of Sea World Drive when his 1979 Mercury LTD rear-ended the Toyota 4-Runner shortly before 12:30 a.m., according to the county Medical Examiner's Office.

Medics took Cummins to UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest, where he was pronounced dead at about 4:45 a.m.

Two of the youths who had been riding in the SUV were taken to an emergency room for treatment of minor injuries, SDPD Officer Frank Cali said.

The 15-year-old driver, who had taken his parents' 4Runner out for a drive without their permission, told investigators he had missed the turnoff for Ingraham Street while headed west and was backing up to return to the exit when the collision happened, Cali said.

It was unclear if the driver will face charges over the fatal crash.