Edgewood boy killed crossing Hwy. 19
A 12-year-old Edgewood boy was killed while crossing Hwy. 19 about 8:30 p.m. Aug. 28.
Shawn “Austin” Phillips was hit when he and two other youngsters where trying to cross 19 near Van Zandt County Road 1105, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Brady Lunceford said.
“The kids were on the west side of Hwy. 19 and were running to the east side,” Lunceford said. “The other two made it across. He didn’t.”
The accident happened at 8:23 p.m. Aug. 23. “It was dark and (Austin) was wearing blue jeans and a dark shirt,” Lunceford said.
Austin was killed upon impact. Justice of the Peace Ronnie Daniell pronounced him dead at the scene.
Brenda Sue Smith, 56, of Emory, was driving the vehicle that hit Austin. She immediately stopped to help and called 9-1-1, the trooper said. She was not speeding, was cited in the accident and no charges will be filed in connection with the death, he said.
According to a post on Austin’s grandmother Sharon Carver’s Facebook page, several family members witnessed the accident. She said Austin and his older brother had crossed the highway and were coming back when Austin was hit. The boys were on their way back to their dad’s house, she said.
“I hope everyone hugs your kids, grandkids, parents, siblings, spouses, partners, just anyone you love everytime you see them,” Carver wrote. “Austin’s life was taken in a matter of seconds.”
Austin attended Fruitvale ISD for pre-k through fifth grade before transferring to Edgewood schools.
Family friend Tory Dean Begnaud wrote on Facebook that Austin “was a smart, athletic, loving boy that in the age of computers and TV would rather be outside playing or working. That is so rare these days ... he will always be missed.”
He said an account to help the Phillips family with funeral expenses has been set up at Citizens National Bank and donations can be made at bank’s branches in Wills Point, Canton and Grand Saline under the name Shawn Austin Phillips.
A gofundme.com drive to help the family is also under way.
