A father of two died Saturday after a car thief ran over him with his own vehicle when he tried to grab onto it.
Prince William County Police said Jose Vasquez Galvan, 37, was picking up a package from the leasing office of his gated community in Dumfries, Virginia, at about 7 p.m., WRC reported.
According to WDBJ, an unknown man approached Galvan in the parking lot of the leasing office and got into his gold, 1999 Lexus 300 SUV. Vasquez Galvan grabbed onto the vehicle as the thief began to drive in reverse, striking an unoccupied vehicle. He switched to drive forward, throwing Vasquez Galvan off the vehicle and running over him.
The thief drove away from the area before police arrived. Vasquez Galvan was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Neighbors at the Oasis at Montclair told WRC Vasquez Galvan was a married father of two little girls.
“He was always smiling when I saw him, but I didn’t really know too much more about him,” said Mylie Smith. “I always saw him with his two little girls and everything.”
Some neighbors said such violent crimes were rare in the area, but Jean Manuel, whose daughter lives in the complex, said the daughter’s car was stolen within three months of her moving in.
“We thought gated community’s safer for sure, for her first apartment,” Manuel said.
Police are working to identify the car thief and have not found the stolen vehicle, with a Virginia tag TUW8710. The SUV has damage to the rear left bumper and taillight and possibly the left rear rim. It has two “Baby on board” stickers on the back.
Anyone with information is asked to call 703-792-6500.
