7th grader dies after being struck by car in New Castle

NEW CASTLE, Del. (WPVI) -- Students headed into George Read Middle School in New Castle, Delaware Thursday mourning the loss of a classmate.

14-year-old Tyler Spahn was a 7th grader at the school that his sister also attended.

"It's going to be a tough loss for us. We are going to pull together for Tyler and, especially for, his sister," Principal Holly Sage said.

Shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday, police say Tyler and three friends were trying to cross the northbound lanes of Route 13 near Basin Road.

Police say as Tyler entered the left-hand lane he stepped in front of a Toyota Camry and was struck.

Tyler was treated on the scene and then taken to Christiana Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Camry's driver remained on the scene.

The other teens made it across and were not injured. The teens were a quarter mile away from a pedestrian footbridge.

"We came back last night to put a support plan in place so when the students came back this morning staff were ready," Sage said.

Counselors were brought in from around the district to add to the support staff the school already has to help the grieving students.

"Tyler was a great kid. He made the bucket hat special, every day he came in with his black and white bucket hat and today in his honor, many of the students showed up with some really cool bucket hats," Sage said.

Police do not believe drugs or alcohol were factors in this crash.

No charges will be filed.