7-year-old Dies in Fatal Accident On School Campus

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, September 18, 2000

"7-year-old Dies in Fatal Accident On School Campus"

Sun Valley – On Friday, September 15, 2000, at approximately 3:00 p.m. at Roscoe Street Elementary School located at 10765 Strathern Street in Sun Valley, a 2nd grade student received fatal injuries as a result of an accident on school grounds.

The accident occurred when a group of students were playing in the vicinity of an unattended electric utility cart, weighing over 1,300 lbs. The cart began to roll down an embankment and the students attempted to stop it from rolling backward. In doing so, 7-year-old Steve Silva, a 2nd grade student, became pinned against a wall receiving fatal injuries. A school nurse responded moments after the incident upon being notified by students but was unable to revive the child. Silva was transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:49 p.m.

The schools principal as well as crisis intervention counselors are assisting the students with the tragic loss.

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) School Police, the LAUSD School Operations and the Los Angeles Police Department Valley Traffic Division are working together on the investigation of this incident.

Any information regarding this incident should be directed to Officer Dwight Gillett, Valley Traffic Detectives at 818-756-8391.

This press release has been prepared by Public Information Officer Charlotte Broughton, Media Relations Section 213-485-3586.

For Release 11:30 am PDT
September 18, 2000