Texas mob kills passenger after vehicle hits child

AUSTIN, Texas, June 20 (Reuters) A enraged mob beat to death the passenger of a vehicle that struck a child in the Texan capital Austin, police said today.

Austin police said in a statement that the incident occurred last night after a vehicle hit a young child in a parking lot. They said that shortly after the accident a crowd assaulted the driver of the vehicle.

David Rivas Morales, the passenger, got out of the vehicle to stop the assault on the driver but was in turn beaten by several people in the crowd.

Police said 40-year-old Morales was pronounced dead at the hospital while the child was taken to hospital with ''non-life threatening injuries.'' ''The driver was able to leave the area in his vehicle. The vehicle was recovered by police and the driver is cooperating with homicide detectives,'' the Austin police said.

Police said the incident remained under investigation. The statement made no mention of any arrest.

REUTERS PDS BST0223