A middle school student died after being struck by a car while riding his scooter to school Wednesday morning in Riverside.
Giovanni Valle, 13, a student at nearby Sierra Middle School, was struck near the intersection of Sierra Street and Streeter Avenue just after 7 a.m., according to the Riverside Police Department.
Valle had almost crossed the street when the light changed to green and the driver of a red compact car ran a red light and struck the boy.
"I prayed that God should revive his life," said Juliet Atomre, who saw the collision and prayed over his body. "And people were holding hands, and I was praying, because you need to see the way he tossed him right from there, to that side."
Valle was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.
Valle's mother and sister arrived to the scene and broke down in tears. His sister, Veronica, saw him for the last time as he was heading out to school.
"He told me, ‘I love you.’ I told him, ‘I love you, too,’" she said.
The driver of the car, a 44-year-old Riverside resident, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription drugs. However, he was later released pending the results of a toxicology test.
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Police did not release the driver's name.
Crisis counselors were called to the middle school campus to assist teachers and students, who learned of the collision soon afterward.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Rick Prince at 951-826-8722.
