Up To $5K Reward In Crash That Killed 'Hero' LI Teen Who Saved Sister

CORAM, NY — Suffolk police are offering an up to $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the driver who crashed into two 13-year-olds, killing Tyler Phillips.

Police said a vehicle traveling westbound on Granny Road in Coram struck Phillips and his sister Krystal Randolph as they walked in a bike lane around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 12. Phillips died of his injuries Oct. 15, police said. Randolph, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Investigators believe the vehicle that sped away from the deadly wreck was a dark-colored 2005 to 2009 Chevrolet Equinox. Its front passenger headlight was damaged, said police. A passenger bumper was also damaged and the side view front passenger mirror was broken.

Steffani Campbell, a family friend, told WNBC she saw the crash.

"The car hit her first and I guess he went to jump and grab her, and it just took him," she said.

Campbell said she saw Phillips fly to the middle of the street. She called an ambulance, and 911 told her to try to resuscitate him.

Randolph told the outlet her brother saved her life. Her mother tells her, "He was a hero. He will always be a hero."

In a Facebook post, Phillips' mother described him as a "hero" who pushed his sister out of the path of the oncoming car.

"My baby boy is a hero ... lots of love," she wrote. "I miss him. There's no words that can describe on how I feel."

Phillips had celebrated his birthday a day before the crash.

The Crime Stoppers' fast cash reward police are offering will be issued within a week of
an arrest.

Anyone with information about the crash can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, a confidential police hotline, by using a mobile app, which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips.

Tips can also be submitted online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages, and emails will be kept confidential, police said.