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Man dies after getting out of a moving car in LeClaire

Police were trying to determine what motivated a man to leave a vehicle while it was still moving on a street in LeClaire, Iowa.

Police were trying to determine what motivated a man to leave a vehicle while it was still moving on a street in LeClaire, Iowa.

Zachary Westerhof was found unresponsive in the street in the 100 block of South 8th Street, near Hope Church, Thursday evening, August 27, 2015, according to a statement from LeClaire Police Chief Shane Themas.

"It was determined the vehicle Westerhof was traveling in was northbound on 8th Street when, for an unknown reason, he exited the vehicle," Themas said.

Witnesses said Westerhof was arguing with his girlfriend, who was driving the car, when he suddenly opened the passenger-side door and got out while the car was still moving.

The girlfriend's father, Tim Trujillo, said Westerhof was 21 years old.

"I'm telling you, he was special. He was a special kid. He did a lot of good things in a short time," said Trujillo.

The 21 year old was in culinary school and worked at the Water Bar in Davenport, Trujillo said.

"He was really starting to cook good, too," Trujillo explained. "He would come home and talk about it. That's all he talked about, that and my daughter."

Westerhof was taken by ambulance to a hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Westerhof's family have setup a GoFundMe page and plan to raise money to setup a scholarship in his name. Click here if you would like to donate to the family.

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