ARVADA, Colo. -- A 15-year-old skateboarder died from injuries after he lost his grip and was run over by the Ford Mustang he was hanging on to, authorities said Thursday.

The accident happened in the 12100 block of West 85th Avenue just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

Police said they believe the Ralston Valley High School student was holding the driver's side door of the Mustang as the driver headed west on 85th Avenue. Investigators do not know how or why the teen let go of the door.

He was not wearing a helmet and suffered numerous injuries, police said. He died early Thursday morning, according to Arvada police.

The victim was a sophomore and on Ralston Valley's wrestling team, school officials said. His name is not being released pending the notification of his family.

The school made an announcement about his death Thursday morning, said Lynn Setzer, spokeswoman for Jefferson County Public Schools.

Principal Jim Ellis described him as a "delightful young man."

Crisis counselors are at the school to talk to students but school administrators want to "keep things as normal as possible," Setzer said.

The 16-year-old driver of the Mustang was taken to the police department for questioning, said Susan Medina of the Arvada Police Department. That driver could face charges, Medina said.

Police are investigating how fast the Mustang was going.

Another Arvada teen died four months ago when he was hit by the Jeep that had been pulling him. The accident, in the 6500 block of Oak Street, killed Ausin Ayers, 17, of Arvada, last October.

A 18-year-old Littleton teen was killed in 2007 after he fell while hanging on to the back of a vehicle near Meadowbrook Road. John Nicolette suffered head injuries. Police said the driver was unaware of the skateboarder.

The practice of hitching a ride with a vehicle is known as skitching.

Medina said skateboards are not constructed to go the speed of even a slow moving vehicle and skitching is a dangerous practice. She said kids need to realize that skitching has deadly consequences.

"We need to get that message out," said Medina.

Many skaters at Denver's skate park said they've not only heard of skitching, but they've also tried it.

"I've done it before. Not too fast though," said skater Nick Klaas. "I think the world record is like 70 mph."

"It's a rush. It's fun at times. But you can get out of control," said skater Caleb Murray.

Some said even though they realize it's dangerous, they still do it.

"I don't hop on with random cars or anything. That's not worth it," said skater Buster Honeycutt.

Medina said it's never worth it.

"You can get seriously injured, and in many cases even die," she said.