El Camino College Baseball Player Killed by Suspected 16-Year-Old DUI Driver

Authorities identified Friday a pedestrian police say was killed by a 16-year-old driver in Torrance, who was arrested.

Sladen John Mohl, 19, died at the scene of the crash that happened at 8:41 p.m. Thursday at Hawthorne and Sepulveda boulevards, according to the coroner's office and the Torrance Police Department.

Mohl was recruited to El Camino College baseball team from Alaska.

"Everybody loved him," Nate Fernely, the team's coach said, "you can not look at him and not smile."

"The preliminary investigation reveals the lone driver of a 2015 Toyota Highlander was traveling south on Hawthorne Boulevard approaching Sepulveda Boulevard on a red light," Torrance police Sgt. Ronald Harris said.

Sladen was at the intersection of Hawthorne and Sepulveda, on his way to a nutrition store.

Now, a small memorial is in place for the beloved baseball player. 

"I just saw him yesterday and today he's gone" said the 19-year-old's best friend Zach Findlay.

Findlay said Sladen loved Southern California and talked about the times they surfed in local beaches. Sladen was also a student known for having straight As in his classes.

"The driver continued south and struck a pedestrian who was standing on the pedestrian island which separates the south lanes of Hawthorne Boulevard and the right-turn lane," Harris said. "After colliding with the pedestrian, the driver struck two additional vehicles traveling west across the intersection on a green signal."

"Officers suspected the driver of the Toyota Highlander, a 16-year-old young woman, to be under the influence of narcotics and/or alcohol," Harris said. "She was subsequently arrested at the scene." Her name was not released.

"My best friend, he's gone, and I am never going to get him back," he said. "I just hope she understands what she did."

The other motorists were not hurt. The intersection was closed for more than six hours while an investigation was conducted.