May 27--A fourth-grader who was roughhousing with his sister died on Thursday when he fell into the path of an oncoming vehicle, according to the Simi Valley Police Department.
The boy, whom KTLA-TV identified as Angel Zevallos, and his sister were walking home from Madera Elementary School in Simi Valley at 2:19 p.m., the news station reported. They were playing around, when she pushed him into the street at Royal Avenue west of Sinaloa Road.
The boy fell into the roadway into the path of a slow-moving vehicle that struck him, according to a statement from the police department.
"The driver did everything possible to avoid the collision, but was unable to do so based upon the way the event unfolded," police said.
Pablo Meza witnessed the collision and told KTLA-TV the boy's sister was distraught.
"She was freaking out. She was like crying and she was like, 'I don't want my brother to die,'" he said.
The boy suffered major head injuries and was taken to an area hospital, where he died. The boy's age was not released by police.
"The cause of the collision surrounds a bit of horseplay along the sidewalk involving a game of pushing," police said.
Traffic investigators scanned the roadway with a laser to document evidence at the scene.
Police are working with Simi Valley Unified School District to "ensure accurate information is provided to everyone surrounding the circumstances of this tragic incident," officials said.
veronica.rocha@latimes.com
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