UPDATE: Castroville family mourns death of 5-year-old boy

UPDATE: On Thursday, NewsChannel 5 is learning more about the tragic death of a 5-year-old Castroville boy. California Highway Patrol said he died after he was accidentally run over by his father’swork truck Wednesday afternoon in Prunedale.

Family membersdescribedMateo Daza Novoa as an energetic, adventurous little boywho was always on the go. Theysharedpictures of himwith usbecause theysaid theywant to honor his memory with the community.

The5 year old’s father saidMateo was always the first one to wake up at home because he was so excited to go to school, and said that Mateo called himself “Captain America” because he wanted to be a superhero. Mateo would have been six in November.

Family members said this is a very difficult time and they are trying to erase the incident from their memory. They’re coordinating funeral services with Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church in Castroville, which is also providing support forthefamilyin the wake ofWednesday’s tragedy.

The church saidthe little boy’sfather always helped doing maintenance at the church and they are members there.

Mateo was a student in the transitional kindergarten program at Castroville Elementary Schoolaccording to The North Monterey County Unified School District. The district said counseling is being provided for students on campus.

Anyone interested in helping Mateo’s family should contact the church.

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PRUNEDALE, Calif.: On Wednesday, California Highway Patrol said a 5-year-old boy was killed after he was accidentally run over by his father’swork truck at about 2 p.m.

“It’s just a tragedy all the way around for the entire family,” said CHP Sgt. Robert Lehman.

Lehman said the family lives in Castroville but his father was working on a job at a vacant house in Prunedale.

Investigators told News Channel 5 the father brought his three kids to the job site because they got out of school early. They said he was working inside the home when his two other sons ran inside and to him what had happened. Officers said both sons witnessed the crash.

“He was obviously very distraught at the scene. Extremely emotionally distraught,” said Lehman.

Investigators are still trying to figure out how the truck became unsecured and rolled. They said no one was inside the truck and the keys weren’t even in the ignition.

The boy was initially flown to Natividad Trauma Center where he later died.