13-Year-Old Boy Killed in Train Collision While Riding His E-Bike Remembered by Family and Community for His Kindness

A memorial has been set up at the boy’s middle school, where classmates and friends are sharing their favorite memories

Reis Beck.Credit : 

GoFundMe

A 13-year-old boy died after being struck by a train in Simi Valley, Calif., on April 25, authorities said.

The teen was a Simi Valley resident and a student in the Simi Valley Unified School District, the Simi Valley Police Department said in a statement. He was riding an e-bike southbound along the east sidewalk of Sequoia Avenue when the collision occurred at the railroad crossing at Sequoia Avenue and Los Angeles Avenue.

A preliminary investigation found that the teen “failed to stop in time at the crossing and was subsequently struck by the passing train,” police said. Despite emergency response efforts, he succumbed to his injuries.

“This is a heartbreaking loss for the Simi Valley community, and our thoughts are with the family, friends, and classmates affected by this tragedy,” the department said, also reminding riders to remain alert near railroad crossings and to obey posted signals.

The boy was later identified by Simi Youth Baseball as Reis Beck, a member of the league.

Reis’ father, Landon Beck, shared details about his son in an interview with KTLA, describing him as both competitive and emotionally intuitive.

“He was rough. He played rough, he loved sports, he loved competition,” Beck said. “He, like all of our boys, also had a sensitive side — he had an intuition and an ability to read feelings.”

Recalling a recent interaction, he added, “The other day, he said ‘Dad I know you’re so stressed right now so I don’t want to bog you down with helping me with my bike.’ He just knew.”

Simi Youth Baseball also reflected on Reis’ life and character in an April 27 Instagram post.

“Reis was more than a talented ballplayer — he was a beloved son, a brother, a teammate, and a true friend to so many,” the organization wrote. “His love for the game was evident every time he stepped on the field, but it was his kindness, his energy, and his unforgettable smile that truly made him special.”

“There are no words that can fully express the heartbreak of losing someone so young, with so much life ahead of him,” the post continued, adding that the community is “grieving together” while holding onto memories of him.

A memorial has been set up at Sinaloa Middle School, where classmates and friends have been writing down their favorite memories of Reis, reports KTLA.

A GoFundMe page was created by a community member to support the family, with organizers noting the loss and asking for privacy and continued support during this time.