Girl dies during driving "game"

DAVIE -- Two teenagers were playing a dangerous driving game when one lost control of his sport utility vehicle, killing a 14-year-old girl who was thrown out the window, police said.

Peri Laguna of Davie was a passenger in the SUV and was ejected from the front passenger-side window, police said. She was not wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the black Isuzu Trooper, Ricky Oquendo, 16, of Weston, does not have a drivers license, police said.

He was playing a game of "leap frog" Thursday night with the other vehicle, driven by another 16-year-old, Julio Moreno, police said. The game involves two cars taking turns passing each other.

"They were just leaping back and forth," Davie police spokesman Lt. Bill Bamford said.

The teens disregarded the double-yellow line indicating they were not allowed to pass on the narrow two-lane road. Moreno was passing his friend when he saw another car approaching and quickly moved back into his lane, cutting off Oquendo.

Oquendo swerved and the SUV rolled, police said. Oquendo was wearing a seat belt and suffered minor injuries.

Orlando Sentinel

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