A 9-year-old boy who was hit by a car Wednesday night in Mount Vernon has died, according to police.

Police say the boy, identified as Drew Faustin, was struck by the vehicle while he tried to cross South Columbus Avenue around 6:30 p.m. Close family friends say he was just a week shy of his 10th birthday.

Police have identified the driver as Janay Ruiz, 27, of Connecticut. Witnesses say they heard the impact and rushed out as emergency responders tried to revive Faustin.

News 12 was told Faustin was walking with his friends from an after-school program at the Graham School when he went to cross the street. He was taken to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx where he died from his injuries.

A mother of a boy who was with the victim tells News 12 that her son was able to cross the street safely and encouraged his friends to do the same. She says that the victim didn't cross immediately, and when he tried, the friends warned him that a car was coming. However, that warning came too late and the child was struck.

His pastor says the grief is too much to bear for himself and the family as Mother's Day is soon.

The driver stayed on the scene and was not charged. Police say they believe this was a tragic accident.

A GoFundMe for Faustin's funeral can be found here.