Family remembers Newark boy killed in 21st Street crash as energetic, eager to help

NEWARK - Timothy "Timmy" Saunders was six days shy of his 13th birthday when he was killed in an accident along North 21st Street Friday evening.

Amid an investigation, Newark police said initial information indicated the boy was riding a bicycle eastbound across North 21st Street when he was struck by two vehicles traveling northbound. When first responders arrived about 5:49 p.m. Friday, they found Saunders had died of injuries he sustained in the crash.

More:Newark police identify child cyclist killed in North 21st Street accident

Timmy's mother, Robyn Saunders said her son was always on the go and was a great brother to his 14-year-old sister and 6-year-old brother.

"Some people misunderstood him, but other than that, he was a great kid. He was very helpful," she said. "He was very overprotective of his older sister and his little brother."

According to his mom, Timmy wasn't prone to staying indoors and playing video games. She added he loved to be outside playing. She laughed, remembering how ornery her son was, and how he and his sister had once let their neighbor's horses out of the barn, leading them down to their house.

"They couldn't help but laugh, him and his sister. He thought it was funny. I'm like 'nope, we gotta take the horses back,'" she remembered telling them. "They walked them back and apologized. And the neighbor just thought that was so cute and funny."

According to his mother, Timmy was living with an aunt at the time of the crash. She said he'd previously attended Liberty Union-Thurston Local Schools in Baltimore.

His adult cousin, Troy Saunders, described the boy as a great kid who was always energetic and on the go. Saunders said his cousin tried to help family members in any way he could.

He said the boy, who would've turned 13 on Nov. 15, loved getting to ride in a semi truck with his grandfather, aunt and uncle.

"He was special in his own little way. A piece of everyone's heart is with him," Saunders said of the his cousin.

Whenever it snowed, Robyn Saunders said her children loved going outside to make snow angels, have snowball fights, and sledding - even when there was barely enough snow on the ground. Oftentimes, the children would stay out until their hands were red and cold. They'd come inside, the mother said, but only long enough to warm up enough to return to the snow.

"I just want people to remember how he was, the kid that he was," Robyn Saunders said. "The bright and funny little boy."

According to Seth Roy, community outreach coordinator for Newark City Schools, Timothy Saunders enrolled at Wilson Middle School sometime in the past year and attended seventh grade.

Roy said extra counselors were available at the school on Monday in case any of the students or faculty needed someone to talk to. He added the district feels for the family and everyone involved in the accident.

According to his obituary, a funeral service for Timmy will be held 3 p.m. Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1701 Sheridan Dr. in Lancaster. Calling hours will be 5-8 p.m. Thursday at the Johnson-Smith Funeral Home in Baltimore.

Donations toward assistance with funeral expenses can be made to the funeral home.