Mother of boy who saved sister’s life by diving in front of SUV begs driver to come forward
The traumatized mother of a heroic boy who jumped in front of a speeding car to save his sister’s life has demanded justice for his tragic death – while paying tribute to her ‘amazing’ son.
Tyler Phillips, of Medford, New York, was sent flying when he was hit by a gray SUV, just one day after celebrating his birthday, as he rushed in to save his 14-year-old sister, Krystal Randolph, on October 12.
His heartbroken mom Desira Mack has now demanded justice and begged those who may have any information to come forward.
Phillips, 13, and his sister were walking along Granny Road to their mom’s boyfriend’s house – when brave Tyler jumped in front of the speeding vehicle, pushing his sister out of harm’s way, in the heroic act that killed him.
He suffered with brain damage on impact after his spinal cord became disconnected from his skull. He was also suffering from internal bleeding before his life support was turned off.
Emergency medics rushed both teens to Stonybrook University Medical Center. Tyler held on but sadly died on October 15 – three days after the tragedy.
Tyler had just celebrated his 13th birthday the day before the deadly crash.
Heartbroken mother Desira told DailyMail.com: ‘I am a total mess right now.
Heartbroken mother Desira Mack (right) paid tribute to her son Tyler (left) who was sent flying when he was hit by a gray SUV a day after celebrating his birthday as he rushed in to save his 14-year-old sister, Krystal Randolph, on October 12. He suffered with brain damage on impact after his spinal cord became disconnected from his skull
Tyler Phillips and his sister Krystal Randolph. The siblings were very close, and Tyler jumped in front of his sister to save her during the fateful night
Tyler had just celebrated his 13th birthday the day before the deadly crash. He was remembered as an ‘amazing boy’
Close family friend Crystal Ryan, 29, was like an aunt to Tyler. She paid tribute to sporty Tyler – who played football for his middle school and was also someone who would defend people who couldn’t do so themselves
‘He was amazing, stubborn, cranky, crazy at times but he was an amazing boy. He’s a hero.
She told DailyMail.com Granny Road has always been very bad to drive down.
‘We need to put a stop light there and stop signs – maybe have cops sit there so when people drive fast they will have to slow down.’
She continued: ‘We need to have streetlights on that road, and cameras.’
Desira’s boyfriend lives near where the accident happened. She said her son knew the area well – and he was a child that went with the flow especially when the family lived in a community health resources shelter.
Paying tribute to her son, she added: ‘When there was a bad situation he handled it the best way he knew how. He handled everything he was supposed to. At times he was difficult to deal with, but once you sat down and explained it to him he was good.’
‘He was an amazing kid.
‘We have been living in a shelter for almost a year. I asked the shelter to move me in February and they wouldn’t listen to me.
‘Maybe if they moved me my son would still be alive and I wouldn’t be burying him tomorrow.’
Granny Road near Middle Island Road, where the accident occurred
Tyler and his family had been living in a shelter before the ordeal
Tyler Phillips and his family. He was very close to both of his siblings and his mother, according to a close family friend. Tyler and Krystal attended eighth grade together at William Paca Middle School in the William Floyd school district
Demanding justice for her son’s life, the mother said as a message to the hit-and-run driver: ‘Come forward. Stop playing around. What you are doing, just come forward. My son needs justice. I need justice.’
Suffolk Police are asking the public for help in finding the driver of the SUV – believed to be a dark-colored Chevrolet Equinox made between 2005 and 2009 – that struck and killed the 13-year-old on October 12.
Tyler was wearing a hoodie of his favorite rapper, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, when he died.
Close family friend Crystal Ryan, 29, told DailyMail.com that Tyler and his sister Krystal were inseparable and always together. She added that Tyler was hit head-on and his sister, who has a different father to her two brothers, suffered minor injuries.
Ryan, who is currently pregnant with her fourth child, paid tribute to sporty Tyler – who played football for his middle school and was also someone who would defend people who couldn’t do so themselves.
She added: ‘My main concern is his sister now. I don’t want her to have survivors guilt.’
‘I feel for her I really do feel for her because I lost brothers I was really close too so I know exactly what she is going through. I am going to try and get her into some therapy.’
Speaking about their sibling relationship, and the courage he displayed saving his sister’s life, Ryan added: ‘They were very close. The bond they shared was incredible. They were together 24/7 – almost everyday so I would see him doing something like that.’
Ryan – who was like an aunt to Tyler – slammed the lack of streetlights and cameras on the narrow road where the tragic collision occurred. The roadway, she explained is a two-way road that also has a bike lane, but no space for pedestrians to walk.
‘I never understood why they never did anything about that area. Why they never put a sidewalk or even something to keep the cars from going where the people walk.
Ryan – who was like an aunt to Tyler – slammed the lack of streetlights and cameras on the road where the tragic collision occurred
Tyler with his sister who he jumped in front of to save
Suffolk Police are asking the public for help in finding the driver of the SUV – believed to be a dark-colored Chevrolet Equinox made between 2005 and 2009 – that struck and killed the 13-year-old on October 12
‘Everywhere else they have cameras but they don’t have a camera there.’ she said. ‘If they had a camera there they would probably find the person sooner instead of having to go through all this run around in getting tips and everything.
She smiled when she said that Tyler would always give her hugs whenever he would see her and her children.
She said when she first learned of the horror that something bad had happened to Tyler she was devastated and then shared with DaillyMail.com that she was grateful that she able to say her final goodbyes.
‘When I did FaceTime with his mother at the hospital I told Tyler how much I love him.’
She said her 10-year-old son was very close to Tyler and when she heard him tell him over Facetime that ‘he will love him forever.’ She said ‘it broke my heart.’
The young hero was always vey protective of his mother Ryan explained.
‘They had a very good relationship. Tyler was her first born son and they had a very close bond,’ she said.
She also shared that Tyler’s little brother, Micky, 10, was also having a difficult time coming to grips with his older brother’s death.
‘Tyler never deserved this,’ she said as she got emotional. ‘He was a great kid. He was enthusiastic. He was outgoing. He was kind but fierce. He was athletic.
She added: ‘And, he cared for the ones he loved.’
The siblings were reportedly playing at a Park in Coram, New York, before the incident
Emergency medics rushed both teens to Stonybrook University Medical Center. Tyler held on but sadly died on October 15 – three days after the tragedy
Desari Mack, Tyler’s mother, confirmed that he died in the hospital three days later after the crash severed his spine and skill
Tyler (pictured holding blue bucket) and his sister (right, holding purple bucket) have been living in a shelter for the past year. They were on their way home when the car approached them from behind
Though Tyler’s parents were not together, she said that Joseph, Tyler’s father was a part of his son’s life, and will be paying his final respects at his son’s wake and burial.’
‘He was a child. He didn’t deserve that,’ Ryan repeated.
‘Hopefully the person who did this gets what they deserve. I know for a fact, that it will haunt them for the rest of their life until they do something good and come forward.’
The GoFundMe she created for the family raised nearly $16,000. She expressed her gratitude to all who donated.
‘Thank you to everyone. We were able to give Tyler the going home ceremony he deserves.’
Tyler and his sister Krystal, who were in the eight grade, attended William Paca Middle School in the William Floyd school district together.
Administrators offered their condolences in a note to the community following the incident, which read: ‘While we are thankful that Krystal is expected to survive, we are heartbroken to learn of Tyler’s passing.’
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with Tyler’s family and friends at this time.’
The Longwood Central School District where Tyler and Krystal previously attended when they were students at West Middle Island Elementary School, also sent a note of condolence.
‘Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tyler and Krystal’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time,’ the district said in a statement.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11342173/Mother-boy-saved-sisters-life-diving-SUV-begs-driver-come-forward.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 Mother of boy who saved sister’s life by diving in front of SUV begs driver to come forward