Car with teen behind wheel runs red light, kills cabbie in San Mateo

An intoxicated teenage driver ran a red light in San Mateo this morning and broadsided a taxicab, killing the driver, then fled as flames engulfed his car where two other teenagers were trapped, police said.

Police were able to pull the badly injured youths from the burning Volkswagen Jetta on El Camino Real near Hillsdale Shopping Center, but there was nothing they could do for the cabdriver, 48-year-old Michael Earl Prescott of Redwood City. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident happened at 6:15 a.m. when the 16-year-old driver of the Volkswagen, speeding north on El Camino, ran a red light at 31st Avenue and hit the Yellow Cab, which was carrying no passengers, police Capt. Kevin Raffaelli said.

The Jetta driver ran, leaving behind two passengers - a 15-year-old girl and 17-year-old boy - who were trapped in the car, police said. The Jetta then burst into flames. Police who arrived on the scene managed to pull the youths through the fire and out of the car.

The driver was found hiding behind a building a short distance away and "fought violently" with officers before they were able to arrest him, police said. He suffered minor injuries in the crash.

The passengers he abandoned suffered serious injuries, police said. The boy is in serious condition at Stanford Hospital with severe burns and fractures, and the girl is in serious condition with numerous fractures.

The Jetta driver was booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, felony hit and run, felony assault on an officer and resisting an officer, police said. His name was not released because he is a juvenile.