CROFTON - An 18-year-old man died yesterday after he fell from a vehicle and struck his head early Saturday morning, county police said.

Just before 12:30 a.m. Saturday, William Scott Staso of Cool Spring Court, Ellicott City, was directing the driver of a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban where to park at Chapman Road and Andy Court in Crofton.

Police said that, as the driver of the vehicle, Joseph Mendez, 19, was making a right turn, Mr. Staso leapt onto the hood of the vehicle, fell off and struck his head on the pavement.

Mr. Mendez of Catonsville and passengers of the SUV put Mr. Staso into the vehicle and began driving him to a hospital. But the driver stopped and called for help, police said.

Mr. Staso was transported by ambulance to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore with critical injuries, said Battalion Chief Matthew Tobia, a county Fire Department spokesman. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, police said.

Police do not know why Mr. Staso jumped onto the hood, but they believe alcohol was a factor. No charges have been filed against the driver.

County police, trooper honored

WESTMINSTER - Four county police officers and a trooper from the State Police Glen Burnie barrack were honored last Sunday during the 7th annual Impaired Driving Coalition DUI Law Enforcement Awards.

Cpl. Eric Trumbauer of Northern District; Private 1st Class Robert Burkindine of Western District; Cpl. Gary Kazor and Officer Lori Eakins of Eastern District; and State Police Trooper 1st Class Jason Bigham, were among 146 police statewide who were commended at the ceremony for outstanding commitment in the fight against drunk driving, county and state police officials said.

The ceremony is sponsored by the State Highway Administration and is presented to officers who make the highest number of driving under the influence arrests each year. Four hundred officers, their family members, and friends attended this year's event, held at the Shipley Arena in Carroll County.

Magnet program info sessions set

The county's public school system will hold several information sessions for its magnet programs. Organizers encourage interested parents and students to attend both the general and program-specific sessions.

General information sessions will be held at 6 p.m. tomorrow at Old Mill High School, and Oct. 23 at South River High School.

Sessions for specific programs:

Extended Learning Program/IB Diploma Programme, for students entering ninth grade - 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at Annapolis High; Nov. 19 at Meade High, and Nov. 20 at Old Mill High.

Middle Years Programme, for students entering sixth grade - 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at MacArthur Middle; Nov. 13 at Annapolis Middle, and Nov. 20 at Old Mill Middle North.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) magnet, for students entering ninth grade - 6:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at North County High; Nov. 6 at South River High.

Performing and Visual Arts magnet, for students entering sixth or seventh grade - 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at Bates Middle.

Center of Applied Technology North family open house - 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Center of Applied Technology North.

Center of Applied Technology South 2008 Education Expo - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 8 at the South River Colony Shopping Center in Edgewater.

- From staff reports