Teen struck on Interstate 380 ruled a suicide

Daniel D. Parvin, 16, forced a state social worker taking him to a shelter to pull over along Interstate 380 Monday afternoon, then committed suicide by walking into traffic, police said this afternoon.

Benton County Chief Deputy Michael Ferguson said Parvin, of Cedar Rapids, threatened to jump from the Department of Human Services worker's car, forcing the driver to pull over in I-380's northbound lanes near the Urbana interchange. Parvin left the car and began walking south.

Parvin walked into traffic and was struck by a vehicle driven by Daniel Levi, 36, of Nashua. Levi was not hurt.

Parvin was being taken to a shelter in Independence under a juvenile court order, DHS spokesman Roger Munns said.

“The DHS employee attempted to prevent the accident and has provided a detailed sequence of events to law enforcement officials, who are continuing their investigation,” said Munns This accident is a tragedy, not only for the victim and his family but for the DHS employee on the scene.”

The DHS worker called 911, and deputies were on their way to the scene when Parvin was struck, Ferguson said. The nearest deputy was north of Vinton, and it took him about 15 minutes to reach the accident scene near Urbana. A second deputy had just arrived on the scene when Parvin was struck by a vehicle, however, the deputy did not see the actual accident.

The DHS worker turned around, crossing the median in his vehicle, and followed in the southbound lane as Parvin walked south until he was struck.

Parvin's father, Dan Parvin told TV9 that “there is a lot I would like to talk about.”  But Parvin declined to say any more at the moment saying he wanted to speak with a lawyer first.  Parvin did add there are “things people need to know” (about the accident).