A tragic accident unfolded at Campbell Hall School in Studio City on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in the death of a 15-year-old student and injuries to five others. The incident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. in the school's carpool line, a typically bustling area where parents, siblings, and friends gather to pick up students at the end of the academic day.
According to multiple sources, including the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the young boy was walking between two vehicles in the pickup zone when a green 2025 Rivian SUV moved forward unexpectedly. The SUV rear-ended a smaller white SUV in front of it, pinning the student between the two vehicles. The collision caused a chain reaction, pushing the white SUV into a third vehicle, creating a three-car pileup in the parking lot.
LAPD Lieutenant Matthew Bielski described the harrowing scene, stating, "The vehicle that the student walked in between moved forward," but investigators have not yet determined why the Rivian SUV advanced. The driver, a young woman who was reportedly picking up her younger sister from the school, is not a student at Campbell Hall. Authorities have preliminarily ruled the incident a tragic accident, and no citations or charges are expected to be filed.
The 15-year-old victim was rushed to the trauma center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles alongside his uninjured father, who witnessed the accident firsthand. Sadly, the boy succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The identity of the student has not been publicly released, respecting the family's privacy during this devastating time.
Five other individuals sustained minor injuries in the incident, including two other students and three adults. All were treated at the scene or nearby medical facilities and have been reported to have non-life-threatening conditions. The crash's timing, coinciding with the school's final exam week, added to the shock reverberating through the Campbell Hall community.
Campbell Hall School, a private Episcopal K-12 institution located at 4533 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, is known for its notable alumni, including actors Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, Dakota and Elle Fanning, and NBA players Jrue, Aaron, and Justin Holiday. The school has responded to the tragedy by canceling classes and final exams on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The campus was opened from 10 a.m. to noon to provide a space for grieving students, parents, and staff to gather. Counselors and chaplains were made available to offer emotional support and guidance during this difficult period.
In an email to parents, Head of School Rev. Canon Julian P. Bull expressed his sorrow: "We are heartbroken over the tragic loss. Our collective hearts and thoughts are with the family. I know that the Campbell Hall community will be there for all of them in the challenging days and weeks ahead. In the meantime, please respect the family's privacy as they process this overwhelming loss."
The Los Angeles Fire Department's Captain Adam Van Gerpen highlighted the emotional toll on the witnesses and first responders alike. "There’s a lot of kids getting out of school, getting ready for summer who witnessed this," he said. "Also, this is hard on our firefighters, when you have a teenager who is transported in grave condition." The Mayor's Crisis Response Team was promptly dispatched to both the school and the hospital to provide emotional support and recovery assistance to relatives, students, staff, and emergency personnel involved.
L.A. County Board Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, representing Studio City, issued a statement of condolences via social media: "My heart is with the entire Campbell Hall community during this tragic time. I’m praying for the student in grave condition and all those affected—especially their friends and loved ones." Mayor Karen Bass also committed to sending crisis support teams to aid the community's healing process.
Video footage captured by news helicopters and aerial cameras showed the aftermath of the collision, with a canopy set up between the damaged Rivian and white SUV, a somber marker of the tragedy. The scene drew a crowd of students and staff, visibly shaken by the events that transpired during what should have been a routine school dismissal.
While speculation arose that the Rivian driver may have inadvertently pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, investigators have not confirmed this detail. The LAPD continues to conduct interviews with school personnel, students, and families to piece together the exact circumstances leading to the accident.
The Campbell Hall community now faces the painful task of mourning a lost student and supporting those injured and affected by the event. The school's leadership and local officials are working together to provide resources and counseling to help navigate the emotional aftermath.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities present even in familiar, everyday settings such as school parking lots. As the investigation proceeds, the focus remains on healing and ensuring the safety of students and families returning to campus.
