A tragedy unfolded in New Castle County, Delaware, when two young boys were struck by an SUV while walking home from school, resulting in one child's death and another's injury. NBC Philadelphia reports that the incident occurred Monday afternoon on the 2400 block of Faulkland Road in Wilmington.
According to the New Castle County Police, a 17-year-old male driving a maroon Hyundai Santa Fe lost control and crossed the double yellow line, striking the two children on the sidewalk before the vehicle collided with a nearby house, as stated in the police briefing. The accident led to the 10-year-old boy being fatally injured and later pronounced dead at a children's hospital, while the 12-year-old was treated and released. Residents of the neighborhood expressed their unsurprised yet deep distress to Action News, citing reckless driving habits and inadequate traffic signals in the area as longstanding concerns.
In a gesture of solidarity, the New Castle County Police returned to the scene the day after the crash, where the community's response was palpable. The local crossing guard, who witnessed the tragic event and was back on duty, was commended for his courage by Police Col. Joseph Bloch in an interview with CBS News. "It's tough for him, but he was determined to come to work this morning because he felt he had to do this job and continue to do his job," said Bloch, affirming the department's commitment to community support.
Meanwhile, a poignant reminder of the accident adorned the corner where locals laid flowers for the young victim. Police mingled among the crowd with a support dog, seeking to provide some comfort. The Red Clay Consolidated School District, where both boys were students, has dispatched its crisis response team to aid the mourning community. While the teen driver was released after being treated for his injuries, the investigation by New Castle County Police remains ongoing and no charges have been announced. Action News notes that witnesses or anyone with video footage of the crash are urged to come forward to assist law enforcement efforts.
