Hero teen dies just days after birthday when jumping in front of car to save sister

He is a hero because he saved his sister from being hit by that car

A 13-year-old boy has been hailed 'a hero' after saving his sister's life in a hit-and-run. On Wednesday 12 October, 13-year-old Tyler Phillips and his sister, Krystal Randolph, also 13, were walking home from Gordon Heights Children's Park in Coram, Long Island, New York. At around 7:30pm, when the pair were on Granny Road walking in a bike lane, a car approached the children from behind and ran into them, police report. Despite it being dark by 7:30pm, Krystal told NBC 4 the car that approached her and her brother from behind had no lights. [caption id="attachment_364283" align="alignnone" width="1478"] A candlelit vigil is being held for Tyler today Friday, 21 October. Credit: Dez Mac/Facebook[/caption] The incident was witnessed by family friend Steffani Campbell. She recalled: "The car hit her (Krystal) first and I guess he (Tyler) went to jump and grab her, and it just took him. "She said she watched him fly to the middle of the street and she called an ambulance. They told her to give him CPR and that was it." Both were rushed to Stony Brook University Hospital. Krystal reportedly sustained a sprained armed, however Tyler's injuries were a lot more serious. Mum Desari Mack explained: "They tried to resuscitate him in the ambulance. They took him to Stony Brook Hospital, but his vertebrae and skull got separated. "He has no brain function, he’s gone." The SUV - reportedly a dark-coloured Chevrolet Equinox - is said to have immediately taken off after hitting the two children, not stopping to check if they were okay. Deputy inspector David Doherty stated: "We expect the vehicle involved to have front and/or side-passenger damage. We are currently canvassing the area for witnesses and video." A $5,000 cash reward is now being offered to anyone with any information on the car which could lead to the arrest of the driver.