The Pleasantville community is mourning the deaths of two elementary school students who were struck and killed by vehicles within days of each other.
Both children attended South Main Street School, leaving classmates, teachers and families coping with an unimaginable loss.
Six-year-old Ty was struck by a westbound vehicle on the Black Horse Pike near Noah’s Road in Pleasantville. First responders attempted to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ty, who had autism, was known to move quickly and sometimes wander from the safety of his home. Following his death, his family said they wished they had known more about technology designed to help protect children who are prone to wandering.
His mother said she learned only after the tragedy about tracking bracelets that can locate a child and alert caregivers. The family also became aware of door sensors that sound an alarm when a child leaves home.
Those resources had never been shared with the family.
“They should embrace sensors like they do ramps,” a family friend known as Aunt Mimi told BreakingAC.
Aunt Mimi said she had personally witnessed how quickly Ty could run. His family now hopes that sharing his story will increase awareness of wandering-prevention tools and help other families obtain potentially lifesaving resources.
Ty’s relatives, friends and members of the community gathered Tuesday evening near the scene of the crash for a balloon release in his memory. Emergency workers who responded to the accident joined the family as they remembered the little boy.
Two of Ty’s teachers and the nurse from South Main Street School also attended the gathering. Pleasantville Mayor Judy Ward attended the vigil and led the group in prayer near the memorial for Quintay “Ty” Muhammad.
The school community’s grief deepened Sunday when 7-year-old Jayden Barger, a second grader at South Main Street School, was fatally struck in Atlantic City.
Jayden was riding a gas-powered minibike near Massachusetts and Melrose avenues at about 5 p.m. when he collided with a 2012 Nissan Altima, according to Atlantic City police.
Jayden’s mother, Lisa Barger, told BreakingAC that her son was heading to Fisherman’s Park to ride the minibike when the crash occurred.
The driver remained at the scene, and both vehicles were taken for further examination as part of the investigation, police said. The driver was identified as Ciyanna Archetto. Court records show she was issued summonses for operating an unregistered vehicle, displaying fictitious license plates and driving without liability insurance.
No criminal charges had been announced. The crash remains under investigation by Atlantic City police and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Pleasantville Superintendent of Schools Felicia Hyman-Medley said counselors would be available at South Main Street School to support students and staff members grieving the loss.
The school now must help its young students process the deaths of two classmates in the span of a week.
For both families, the losses have brought an outpouring of support from teachers, emergency responders, friends and community members.
