South Bay student mourned after striking head on bridge aboard bus

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A Manhattan Beach community is mourning a 16-year-old boy who died after his head struck a freeway overpass as he was standing up on a tour bus.

The freak accident happened on Thursday at about 7:45 p.m. Mason Zisette was on sightseeing trip around Los Angeles for a classmate's birthday.

Investigators say the group of teens was ducking overpasses as they traveled southbound on the 405 Freeway on a Star Lines Tours double decker bus. Zisette was standing on the upper section facing the back of the bus when he was struck as the bus passed under the Arbor Vitae Street overpass. The bus was traveling about 45 mph, the CHP said.

There were about 45 passengers on the bus at the time, most of whom were under the age of 18. Adult chaperones were also on the bus.

The teen was rushed to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in critical condition. On Saturday, he was taken off life support after family and friends said their goodbyes to him. His parents allowed as many as 100 of his friends to visit him before he was taken off life support.

Zisette, a student at Mira Costa High School, was described as a kind-hearted young man, a great tennis player and a good friend.

"The thoughts and prayers of the entire Mustang Family go out to Mason's family during this unimaginably difficult time," Principal Ben Dale said in an email to the school.

"It's an off-campus event, but when any of our students goes through something like this, it's an event that affects our entire community," said Manhattan Beach Unified School District Superintendent Mike Matthews.

"It's a tragic, tragic loss. And for some students, it's their first experience with that, and that's why we've got the counselors available," said Mira Costa Vice Principal Deborah Hofreiter.

Grief counselors were on campus for students and faculty on Monday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.