Dump Truck Kills Girl, 13, on Her Way to School

A 13-year-old girl, walking in a crosswalk to her El Monte school, was struck by a dump truck carrying sand to a school construction project and killed instantaneously 10 minutes before school began Friday.

Anh Mong Tran was an eighth-grader who loved singing and was looking forward to participating in the holiday program at Durfee Middle School, her family said.

The dump truck driver told police he looked both ways at Maxson Road and Star Street, but did not see Tran stepping off the curb before he attempted to make a left turn from Maxson onto Star, said Sgt. Bob Roach of the El Monte police.

The driver, who was not identified or charged, did not appear to be driving drunk or under the influence of drugs, but he was given a blood test, Roach said. The truck underwent mechanical tests to determine if it was functioning properly, he said.

The girl lived two blocks from school. Her family expressed anger that a crossing guard was not stationed at the intersection. Her uncle, Ken Doan, said there was heavy truck traffic while children walked to and from Durfee and a nearby elementary school.

El Monte’s school superintendent, Jeff Seymour, said the school district employs a limited number of crossing guards and that the Maxson-Star intersection was not considered dangerous. The district has no control over when trucks deliver building materials for a gym that is being constructed, he said.

Ten psychologists and counselors were on hand Friday to counsel the more than 400 students.