13-year-old boy riding bike hit, killed by driver in Pittsburgh area
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — One teenager is dead and another juvenile was injured after being hit by the driver of a vehicle while riding their bikes on Friday night in Butler County.
Tim Derringer, chief of the Buffalo Township Police Department, told KDKA-TV on Friday that a man driving west on Cole Road hit the two juveniles, who were riding their bikes west on Cole Road. The crash happened at around 7 p.m., Derringer said.
One of the juveniles was taken to a local hospital by his parents in stable condition, while a 13-year-old boy was flown to a hospital in Pittsburgh in critical condition. The 13-year-old later died, police said. The 13-year-old was identified as Dylan Tarbi of Sarver.
Boxing coach Rich Cantolina says he went into shock upon hearing that Tarbi had died as the result of the crash. He coached Tarbi at Sanctuary Boxing Club.
"More than anything, what I loved about Dylan being here was that he loved to be here. He smiled from the time he walked in to the time he walked out," Cantolina said.
The driver of the vehicle told police he couldn't see the bikes because the sun was in his eyes. Alcohol isn't suspected to have been a factor.
As a boxer, Rich said Dylan could punch so hard, it would hurt Rich.
"He was one of the most natural kids I've ever seen. He picked it up quick[ly]. He paid attention," Rich said.
Dylan was on the fast track to the fight team, he said.
"Dylan was always that kid who was happy-go-lucky; he walked in, chest out, excited to be here," Rich said.
He described Dylan as always polite, saying it was clear he came from a great family.
The moments that Rich will remember the most about Dylan are the ones that happened each time Dylan came in. Rich explained that they have kids are young as four or five, and that typically, they'd be intimidated by someone who was as big as Dylan, but Dylan made sure that wasn't the case.
"These kids looked up to him. Every time he was in here for class, he was giving high fives to little kids, pumping them up, telling them what a good job they were doing.
It's a sign of the good leader Dylan could have been.
Rich said, as a tribute, he wants to put a memorial to Dylan outside their gym.
