16-Year-Old Mira Costa Student Killed While Riding On Double-Decker Tour Bus
MANHATTAN BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Grief counselors spent the day with students at Mira Costa High School on Monday after a popular student was killed in an accident while riding on a tour bus.
Mason Zisette, 16, was riding on the upper level of a double-decker bus when he reportedly stood up and hit his head against an overpass of the I-405 freeway in Inglewood, according to California Highway Patrol officials.
Zisette died after he was taken off life support over the weekend.
"I heard he was just a great kid, and very down-to-earth and funny," one student said.
The bus was chartered to celebrate the birthday of a female classmate, with about 40 other kids along with adult chaperones.
Mira Costa High School officials decided to bring grief counselors into summer school Monday to help students cope with Zisette's loss.
"I sent out an email to all the summer school teachers to watch their students for any signs of grief, and just not being able to focus, and had them send the student down to the main office for counseling with a buddy, not alone," Vice Principal Deborah Hofreiter said.
Zisette, a sophomore, played on the school's varsity tennis team.
The family of the girl whose birthday was being celebrated at the time of the accident say only that they are devastated by the tragedy.
