AREA BOY DIES AFTER BEING HIT BY CAR.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

As rain soaked the Santa Clarita Valley, motorists faced a nightmarish Thanksgiving eve rush that saw about 20 crashes, including one in which a 12-year-old boy died.

During the first 12 hours of the Thanksgiving holiday, at least two people died in traffic crashes in Los Angeles County, the California Highway Patrol reported. Seven people were killed in crashes across the state.

California Highway Patrol spokesman Doug Sweeney said some motorists driving in Wednesday night's downpour failed to take necessary precautions.

``People need to pay attention,'' he said.

Shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday, 12-year-old Andrew Palaez, a student at Sierra Vista Junior High School, was hit and fatally injured by a car along Whites Canyon Road, authorities said.

The boy was crossing eastbound on Whites Canyon with his friend, when a 17-year-old girl, heading north in a Ford Escort, hit him at 2:40 p.m. near Stillmore Street, said Sgt. Steve Gurlitz of the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station. The name of the driver was withheld because of her age, officials said.

Witnesses at the scene said the traffic signal had turned red when Palaez and his friend tried to cross to the east side of Stillmore Street. Traffic in the No. 1 lane apparently halted. The girl, driving in the No. 2 lane, apparently was unable to stop in time.

According to the Sheriff's Department, Palaez suffered major head trauma and was transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, where he later died. His friend was uninjured and the cause of the incident was under investigation.

Sweeney said the flash point of many of Wednesday's crashes was the area between Placerita and Escondido Canyon roads on the Antelope Valley Freeway.

Travelers on Thursday were treated to partly sunny skies and no rainfall. Weather officials said Southern California roads should remain dry until Sunday, when more rain is expected.

CHP reported it had arrested 41 people in Los Angeles County for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; there were 221 DUI arrests statewide.