SAN ANTONIO – Evelyn Villarreal, 6, died Saturday after she was run over by her aunt while crossing the street on her way to a family birthday party.
"We told the truck, 'Wait, wait!' but it was already too late," said Villarreal's aunt, Cassandra Carmona.
The birthday party festivities quickly turned into prayers as family and friends could only watch while police investigated the accident.
The accident occurred at about 6 p.m. near the intersection of Fairmeadows Street and Long Branch on the city's Southwest Side.
Police say the aunt dropped Villarreal off but never escorted her across the street to the party.
"The child for some reason ran to the front of the vehicle. The vehicle sits high, (it's a) Dodge truck and the child is only about three feet tall so she couldn't see the child," said San Antonio Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jesse Garcia.
Investigators said the aunt's vehicle rolled over the little girl, crushing her.
Medical personnel rushed Villarreal to University Hospital, where she died.
"It's very difficult, especially when there's a child. There's nobody to blame, just a child that was not seen and unfortunately this happened," Garcia said.
Police have not ruled out possible charges, but said the incident it appears to be an accident.