A young life was abruptly ended on the streets of West Mifflin this past weekend, after a 13-year-old boy known as Terrel Byars Jr., or TJ, was tragically killed in a vehicular collision. As reported by WPXI, Terrel was struck last Saturday night while walking from a friend's house to a nearby Speedway on the 4300 block of Kennywood Boulevard.
Witnesses and residents were quickly alerted to the incident as emergency responders descended upon the scene. Dylan Sanders, a neighbor to the area, told WPXI about witnessing the sudden influx of emergency vehicles, stating, "I just looked out my window, and I seen a whole bunch of lights." Terrel was promptly transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to traumatic brain injuries caused by the accident, his family confirmed.
According to a statement obtained by WTAE, the East Allegheny School District, where TJ was enrolled as a sixth-grade student at Logan Elementary School, expressed its sorrow over the loss. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of a 6th-grade student from Logan Elementary School. Last evening, Terrel Byars Jr. (TJ) was struck by a car and tragically lost his life. Our thoughts are with the student’s family, friends, classmates, and teachers during this difficult time."
As the community grapples to come to terms with such a devastating event, resources are being mobilized to aid those in mourning. The school district is providing counselors from Turtle Creek Valley Community Service at Logan Elementary today and tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. After the school break, additional counseling services will be made available when classes resume on January 5.
Details on the incident remain sparse, and it is currently unclear whether any charges have been filed in connection with the crash. The West Mifflin police department has not yet released additional information.
