Kids at a school in New Castle County had an emotional morning after they learned one of their classmates had been killed while walking home from school. Police say a 17-year-old driver hit two kids when he lost control as he was coming through an intersection. NBC10 Delaware bureau reporter Tim Furlong reports.
Two children walking home from school were struck by an SUV in New Castle County, Delaware, Monday afternoon, leaving one boy dead and another hurt.
Paramedics and police were called to the 2400 block of Faulkland Road in Wilmington just after 4 p.m. for a collision with pedestrians hit, New Castle County Police said.
"When the officers arrived at the scene, they learned that a maroon Hyundai Santa Fe operated by a 17-year-old male was traveling westbound on Faulkland Road approaching Centerville Road, when the Hyundai Santa Fe crossed the double yellow line into the opposite lane of travel and struck a 10-year-old male and a 12-year-old male that were on the sidewalk on the south side of Faulkland Road," county police said.
"After striking the two pedestrians the Hyundai Santa Fe continued traveling until it struck the home on the southwest corner of the Faulkland Road," police added.
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The 10-year-old was transported to a children's hospital where he was later pronounced dead, police said. While the 12-year-old child was treated for his injuries at a children's hospital and released.
The 17-year-old driver was also transported to the hospital where he was treated and released.
Police said the SUV struck the children and ran into a home on the street.
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"I saw from when the car came across the street and went over the concrete. I saw him hit the one kid and the kid went flying into the yard and then he hit the corner of the guy's house, hit the front of his car and then came to a stop in my friend's yard," a neighbor who asked not to be shown on camera said. "He had to be doing at least 60 or 70 if not faster."
A crossing guard who has been working at this intersection for twelve years was there at the time of the crash. He spoke with the family of the young victim and was back at work on Tuesday to support and comfort the other kids who count on seeing him every day.
A witness told NBC10 that the driver called his mother crying once he got out of the car.
Neighbors hope New Castle County and DelDOT consider some safety upgrades at the intersection.
"Yes, it's a very dangerous corner," neighbor Essie Burke said. "They're jumping the light and they're going too fast."
Both Faulkland and Centerville roads were closed for hours before reopening around 9:25 p.m.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing as police are working to reconstruct the crash to see how it happened.
As the small memorial at the crash site grows, police say this is a good time to remind everyone that when you're driving a car, younger or older drivers, you can't afford to lose focus.
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