Original Article Boy hit by car while fleeing police dies Lindsey Collom The Arizona Republic Aug. 16, 2005 12:00 AM TEMPE - A 16-year-old runaway who was hit by a car while fleeing from police has died. Damien Novoa died Monday morning at Maricopa Medical Center, two days after the accident, which also injured a Tempe police officer. Police say Novoa suffered massive head and upper-body injuries and did not regain consciousness. His mother reported him missing about 9:30 p.m. Saturday after he hadn't come home in two days. Officer David Koger found the boy at 48th Street and Southern Avenue, near a fast-food place where he worked. Novoa ran as the officer approached. Tempe police Sgt. Dan Masters said the boy hid behind the dumpster of a nearby grocery store but later emerged and encountered Koger. Novoa ran again, this time across a darkened road, where he tripped. Koger was bending to help the boy when a Hyundai struck them, Masters said. Koger was pushed onto the hood, Novoa beneath the vehicle. The driver did not appear to be speeding and was not impaired, police said. The Tempe Police Department issued a statement Monday offering condolences to the Novoa family. Novoa was a student at McClintock High School in Tempe. The family has declined to comment. Reach the reporter at lindsey.collom@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-7983.