6-Year-Old Girl Killed While Crossing Street

A 6-year-old girl was killed Sunday when she was struck by a motorcyclist speeding along a Pacoima street, police said.

Rachel Perez of Canoga Park was crossing the 10000 block of Haddon Street with a 9-year-old relative at 12:40 p.m. when she was hit by a motorcycle driven by Juarez Hector Pelar Estrada, 19, of Pacoima, Los Angeles Police Officer Charlton Jackson said.

Rachel died instantly, according to Jackson.

Estrada, who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, was traveling between 45 and 50 m.p.h. on the residential street, Jackson said.

Rachel was visiting members of her family who lived in the neighborhood, Jackson said. She and her relative had just bought ice cream from a street vendor and were holding hands as they crossed the street, Jackson said. He said the older girl saw Estrada approaching and tried to pull Rachel out of the way. The other girl was unharmed.

After Estrada collided with Rachel, he lost control of the motorcycle and slid more than 170 feet, Jackson said. Estrada was taken to Olive View Medical Center for minor injuries.