A 16-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma injuries Friday was struck by a car as he was riding his skateboard on Parrish Avenue near 171st Street in West Creek Township, according to police.

Jacab Bergonia, of the 157 block of Parrish Avenue in Lowell, died at the scene, Lake County Sheriff's Department spokesman Mark Back said.

Back said police were called to the scene about 8:45 p.m. by the driver of the vehicle that struck the teen. The 34-year-old man from Lowell said he was traveling south on Parrish Avenue when he observed a flash of light that he later determined to be from a cellphone.

"Before he realized what the flash was, his vehicle made contact with the juvenile pedestrian, who was riding a skateboard," Back said.

The driver said he was traveling between 40 and 45 mph at the time his vehicle struck the teen. He stopped his vehicle and called 911.

The Lake County Sheriff's Department Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating.

Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

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