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"Christmas Story" Director Killed in L.A. Car Crash

Posted Apr 4th 2007 3:45PM by TMZ Staff

Bob ClarkBob Clark, director of "A Christmas Story" and a producer of the "Porky's" films, was killed today on California's famed Pacific Coast Highway when his car was hit head-on by an SUV driven by a man who was later arrested for being under the influence of alcohol.

Clark's son, 22-year-old Ariel Hanrath-Clark, was riding with his father and was also killed in the crash.

TMZ has learned that police arrested 24-year-old Hector Velazquez-Nava, the driver of the SUV, on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter, and that Velazquez-Nava will be booked once he is released from the hospital. We're told that Velazques-Nava had a female passenger whose status is unknown at this time.

According to police, the Clarks were riding in a silver Infiniti around 2.30 AM Wednesday on PCH in Pacific Palisades. The Infiniti was badly damaged in the crash, and the SUV's front end was mangled.

Tags: Bob Clark, BobClark

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91. All of you "people" out there in the media, that have been arrested for going down the wrong way, driving around under the influence, and even driving after your license has been revolked:
This is the reality of driving under the influence. No one should die like this!!! The law allows repeat offenders to keep returning to the street until someone is killed; then they want to put them in jail and the family has to put two loved ones in the ground. THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!

Posted at 2:10PM on Apr 5th 2007 by Teresa

92. The reason so many people casually drive drunk is because the lawmakers themselves drink, and they think what's a little drunk driving, let's not make the first offense too severe. I say let out the people who are in prison for simply possessing marijuana, and put in the people who drive drunk.

It would actually benefit the drunk drivers if the laws were tougher on them, because they would smarten up and stop driving drunk BEFORE they killed somebody. And any celebrity who drives drunk is beneath contempt--they certainly make enough to call a cab.

Posted at 2:27PM on Apr 5th 2007 by PrisonForDrunkDrivers

93. terribly sad..I hope the offending driver goes to prison..

Posted at 3:38PM on Apr 5th 2007 by claire collins

94. sorry for Mr. Clark and his my prayers go out to the family and friends.

Posted at 7:38PM on Apr 5th 2007 by johnnie f.king

95. I know someone who was charged with drunk drivine-twice..no jail time or anything. Something more needs to be done about this. This can happen so unexpectedly to someone you love. ugh. it's just not fail that a drunk as*hole can take someones life.

Posted at 6:45PM on Apr 5th 2007 by stephanie

96. Ariel was a friend of mine, and we performed magic shows together when he was living in NH. Its so unfortunate and he will be missed. My prayers are with his mother.

Posted at 12:04AM on Apr 7th 2007 by Justin

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