'He's a hero, but he's gone.' Family says 13-year-old is on life support after saving sister from Coram hit-and-run driver

His mother, Desira Mack, told News 12 on Thursday afternoon that her son was on life support.

News 12 Staff

Oct 13, 2022, 9:11 AM

Updated 801 days ago

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A 13-year-old boy is on life support in a hit-and-run crash that also injured his sister in Coram on Wednesday, according to the teen's family.
Police say Tyler Phillips and Krystal Randolph were walking westbound in the bike lane on Granny Road, near Middle Island Road.
That is when police say Phillips was struck by an unknown vehicle also traveling westbound at 7:25 p.m.
The vehicle fled the scene westbound on Granny Road.
Relatives say the car had no headlights on and that Phillips pushed his sister out of the way and endured the brunt of the crash.
Phillips, of Coram, was transported in an ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital in critical condition.
His sister, who is also from Coram, was transported to the same hospital for treatment of minor injuries to her arm.
His mother, Desira Mack, told News 12 on Thursday afternoon that her son was on life support.
"He's my baby - my second born child - he was everything to me," Mack says.
The mother says Phillips, who just turned 13 on Tuesday, now has brain damage.
"The day they literally take him off everything is when he's gone - but he's already gone they said," Mack says. "He's not breathing on his own, there's nothing."
Phillips went to William Paca Middle School where his mother says he played football and was a popular student with good grades.
"There's no words to explain how I feel," Mack says. "My baby is gone - he's a hero, but he's gone."
She is urging the person who ran over her son to come forward.
Police are describing the vehicle that hit the teenagers as a light gray Chevy Equinox with damage to the front passenger side.
Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to contact Major Case Unit detectives at 631-852-6555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
A candlelight vigil will be held in Gordon Heights on Friday.
A GoFundMe has been created Phillips' family. You can donate here.