Teen left brain dead after Long Island hit-and-run was a ‘hero’: kin

A Long Island teen left brain dead after he was mowed down by a hit-and-run driver while trying to save his big sister is being hailed as “feisty,” “adventurous” and a “hero” as cops press their search for the driver in the deadly crash. 

In a GoFundMe post, Tyler Phillips’ aunt wrote the young teen “was an amazing kid.”

“He is a hero because he saved his sister from being hit by that car,” she wrote for a page set up after the Wednesday night crash, calling her nephew outgoing, athletic and kind. 

“He loved with his whole heart for the ones he cared for.”

The aunt is trying to raise $15,000 to help the family buy a headstone and pay for funeral expenses after the 13-year-old is taken off life support. 

“My nephew Tyler deserves to be laid to rest with a proper farewell,” she wrote.

“We all Love you Tyler and you will be missed tremendously.” 

The teen and his 14-year-old sister Krystal Phillips were walking along a bike lane on Granny Road in Coram around 7:30 p.m. when a car struck them and then sped away, police said. 

Tyler had bravely pushed his big sister out of the way but in the process, was injured so badly that he was left brain dead, his mother said on Facebook. His sister suffered non-life threatening injuries and is expected to recover.  

Cops are asking for the public’s help tracking down the driver responsible for the crash. 

The vehicle is described as a light gray 2005-2009 Chevrolet Equinox with a missing front passenger headlight, busted front bumper and broken side view passenger mirror, Suffolk County police said Thursday. 

They asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

“My baby boy is a hero lots of love I miss him there’s no words that can describe on how I feel,” Tyler’s mom Desira Mack wrote on Facebook alongside images of her son. 

“Love u so much… my little angel.” 

The family set a candlelight vigil for Friday night at Granny Road Park to honor Tyler.