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.

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.

‘We need to put stop light there stop signs maybe have cops sit there so when people drive fast they got to slow down. 

‘That road has always been really bad to go down. They need to put streetlights on that road, stop signs, and a stop light honestly, cameras everything.’

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, 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 road where the tragic collision occurred.

She added: ‘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. If they had a camera there they would probably find the person sooner instead of having to go all this run around and get tips and everything. 

‘I got a phone call that something bad had happened to Tyler. The most I could say, I did FaceTime his mother when she was at the hospital telling him how much I love him and my ten year old was really close to him send told him that he loves him forever which broke my heart.

‘Tyler never deserved this. He was a great kid. He was enthusiastic. He was outgoing. He was kind but fierce. He was athletic. He cared for the ones he loved.’

She said his little brother, who was very close with Tyler, is having a difficult time.

Ryan added that he had a very good relationship with his mother. She said that Tyler was very protective of his mother. She said they had a ‘very close bond.’ Tyler was her first born son.

 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 Mac, 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 

She said his father was part of Tyler’s life and will be at the wake and burial.

Ryan added: ‘He was a child. He didn’t deserve that. A lot of people are trying to figure out who this person is. Hopefully he or she gets what they deserve. He was a kid. I know for a fact it will haunt them for the rest of their life until they do something good about it.

‘Thank you to everyone on the GoFundMe because of them we were able to give Tyler the going home ceremony he deserves.’

Tyler and Krystal attended eighth grade together at William Paca Middle School in the William Floyd school district. 

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 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.