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Alvin school mourns student struck by car

By John Tompkins
The Facts

Published January 12, 2010

ALVIN — Students and teachers are mourning an Alvin teen who was hit and killed by a car while he was riding his bicycle.

Since classes resumed last week after the holiday break, Alvin ISD has taken measures to help Harby Junior High students and faculty deal with the loss of Phillip Duran, 13, who died Dec. 30.

“We did have extra counselors out there,” Alvin ISD spokeswoman Shirley Brothers said. “Some of the teachers took it very hard.”

Funeral services for Duran were Saturday in Pearland.

Duran was riding his bicycle with a friend in the 1700 block of Gordon Street about 6:40 p.m. Dec. 30 when he veered into traffic and was hit by a car, Alvin Police Sgt. Tim Hubbard said.

Kyle Hensley, 50, of Alvin was driving north on Gordon Street in a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire when his vehicle struck Duran, Hubbard said.

The driver “had no way of seeing him,” he said.

Duran was pronounced dead at the scene, Hubbard said. Neither the driver nor Duran’s friend were injured in the incident.

Principal Nancy Flores helped police identify Duran after the accident that day. She drove to the school that night to find a picture of him.

“Once they got it, they identified him that way,” Flores said.

In a letter sent home to Harby Junior High parents last Monday, Principal Nancy Flores told parents that students’ behavior can change dramatically after a traumatic event.

“Everyone deals with a loss differently,” Flores said. “Kids struggle with day-to-day emotions.”

Parents are encouraged to call the school if they believe their child is having problems dealing with Duran’s death, she said.

“Our counselors are well-prepared to assist both students and staff following such tragic incidents,” Flores said in the letter. “They will continue to provide assistance through the next few days and weeks.”

This was Duran’s first year at Harby after he moved to the area from Texas City, Flores said.

The seventh-grader played football and was well-liked among his teachers and fellow students, Brothers said.

Flores said Duran was a good student who used his humor to build relationships with the teachers and students.

“He was an interesting young man,” Flores said. “He made some great friends while he was here. Always smiling. A very great young man.”

Many students who had classes with Duran wrote letters to his mother last week offering their condolences.

“It was just amazing, Flores said.