A makeshift memorial was set up Monday outside the Benicia Senior Center, where a 4-year-old boy was killed after a car accidentally was shifted into reverse. People dropped off flowers as well as toys in remembrance. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

A 4-year-old was killed, and a 13-year-old was injured in a pedestrian collision outside Benicia Senior Center on Sunday afternoon.

At 4:45 p.m., Benicia Police Department had received a call about a vehicle collision outside the Senior Center, located at 187 East L St. Upon arriving on the scene, officers found out that two boys, ages 4 and 13, had been hit by a vehicle in the parking lot. The children, who have not been identified, were guests at a birthday party that was being held at the center. Upon further investigation, it was determined that a 12-year-old boy had gone into the car to charge his cellphone and somehow had accidentally gone into reverse and struck the two boys. The 12-year-old received minor injuries, and both he and the 13-year-old were treated and released from a local hospital after 7 p.m. that night.

The 4-year-old was also transferred to a hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Officer Stephanie Polizziani said the department is still trying to figure out how the car went into reverse.

“We also have possession of the car and detectives are working on a preliminary safety assessment to rule out any mechanical defects,” she said. “These details will assist them in creating a timeline of the incident and a better understanding of what happened.”

Polizziani said the department is providing grief counseling and chaplaincy services to the families and those affected by the incident.

“We have a strong chaplaincy program here at BPD,” she said. “Our first responders had a critical incident debriefing last night.”

On Monday morning, a memorial was set up where people had dropped off flowers, balloons and toys at the scene of the accident.

The incident is still under investigation.

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