Runner hit by errant throw from the outfield

Question
If a runner in the course of running to a base is inadvertently hit by a bad throw from a fielder is the ball live or dead and what happens to the runner?  

Answer
The ball is still live, and the runner is not out. The exception would be if the runner intentionally ran into or blocked the ball. But if the throw inadvertently hits the runner, he is not out and the ball is still in play. As an example, this kind of thing happens fairly often when a throw to a base (by an infielder, outfielder, catcher, etc) hits the base runner when he is sliding into the bag.

Hope this helps.

Mike Fortunato