Community grieves Los Angeles student killed in crosswalk

HIGHLAND PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A community grieved a Los Angeles student who was killed in a crosswalk while walking to school.

Andres Perez was a high school senior on his way to school when he was hit and killed Tuesday morning near S. Avenue 60 and N. Figueroa Street -- five days away from his 18th birthday.

He had been accepted to film school at Cal State Los Angeles and had a bright future, but now his family is left grieving an unimaginable loss.

Detectives said Perez was in the crosswalk on his way to Los Angeles International Charter High School when he was hit by a city-owned utility truck.

Casandra Contreras was there when the boy's mother arrived and found out her son was killed.

"All you can do is hold a mother at that point," Contreras said.

At his school, several students carried in flowers Wednesday morning. It is a tight-knit community, with some 225 students, and everyone knew everyone.

Concerned citizens plan to gather for a vigil and march on Friday to demand answers from City Hall over the dangerous crosswalk where Perez was hit.

"We're asking for safe streets. I don't know how much more clear we can be than that," Highland Park resident Tina Gulotta-Miller said.

Councilman Gil Cedillo said immediate improvements for the dangerous corridor in his district are on their way. They include two new stop signs, two stop lights, two beacons and a 30 percent extended crossing time will be added to those crosswalks.

Counseling is being offered at the school to help students and friends heal.

If you would like to donate to a fundraiser for Perez's funeral, visit gofundme.com/b6f7vkkc.