NEW CASTLE CO., Delaware (WPVI) — Family, friends and the Wilmington community held each other tight as they grieved the loss of a 10-year-old who was killed by a driver on Monday.

The crash happened shortly after 4 p.m. near the intersection of Faulkland and Centerville roads in New Castle County.

James Messick and his 12-year-old best friend were walking home from school when they were hit by a vehicle.

James died at the hospital. His friend was taken to Nemours Children’s Hospital, where he was treated and released.

New Castle County police said the 17-year-old driver was traveling on Faulkland Road and approaching Centerville Road when the vehicle went into the opposite lane and struck the children as well as a house.

Through the tears, loved ones shared their memories at Marbrook Elementary School Friday night.

“I want to remind all of his friends that although James is gone, he is still here, watching you and believing in you,” said the boy’s mother during the vigil.

READ MORE: 10-year-old dies, 12-year-old injured after being hit by car while walking home from school in Del.

“He always stood up for us,” said James’ friend. “Once that was the last time we ever saw him, we didn’t know what to do because he was such a good friend to us, and we just don’t know what to do without him.”

After the vigil, loved ones walked down to the scene, where there was a growing memorial, and vowed to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again.

“I would like to ask the community to be aware of yourself when you’re driving,” said Adam Gibson, who is James’ stepfather. “Please be aware of your surroundings. We want to make sure that intersection gets some improvements.”

And to carry on James’ legacy.

“You’ll be in my heart forever bud,” said Gibson. “A piece of me has been taken. But I will keep moving forward for us because I know that’s what you would want us to do.”

“So when tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart, every time you think of me, I’m right here in your heart,” said the boy’s aunt, Angel Andrews.

Police are still investigating the incident and the driver is not facing any charges at this time.

“We feel very accomplished,” said Kingston resident Orville Plummer, who is part of the Caribbean Ed.D. Program and traveled to Delaware to receive his Doctorate in Educational leadership. “It was a very hard three and a half years, and we have worked collaboratively together and we are very proud to be represented for Jamaica.”

“I think it’s very fitting that Prime Minister Holness come to represent Jamaica,” he added. “We are going back to impact our country.”

As graduates receive their degrees, Holness shared some wisdom with the Class of 2024, offering young and older graduates advice based on lessons he would tell his younger self.

“First, perspective is important. Life always throws up challenges, obstacles and struggles … However, obstacles are sometimes stepping stones, challenges are usually opportunities to be discovered, our struggles are oftentimes exercises to make us stronger,” he said. “We can benefit immensely by approaching our problems from a different point of view. To achieve this, we must accept, regardless of how much knowledge we believe we possess – there is still more to learn.”

His second piece of advice was to be conscious and aware.

“Embrace your struggles and grasp your opportunities. In navigating life, not every struggle is worth fighting, not every opportunity should be taken,” he added.

Have you always wanted to see the northern lights but never been able to travel far enough north to catch a glimpse?

There’s a chance they could be visible from Delaware and nearby states Friday night.

Over the last several days, space weather forecasters have been closely monitoring the sun following a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields, which cause geomagnetic storms.

On Earth, the storms can cause disruptions in communications, the electric power grid, navigation and radio. In space, they can affect satellites.

But the storms can also trigger “spectacular displays” of the northern lights, or aurora borealis, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. This means the aurora could be seen as far south as Alabama and northern California.

This would also include Delaware.

The last time space weather forecasters issued a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm watch − the second most powerful solar storm classification − was January 2005, though a G4 storm did occur in March of this year.

A G5 storm is the most severe and classified as “extreme.” The last one occurred in October 2003 and caused power outages in Sweden. It also and damaged power transformers in South Africa, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center.

When could I see the northern lights?

Timing is not exact, but the time to view the aurora is usually within several hours of midnight, or between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. There can be aurora in the evening and morning, but it is not usually as active, according to NOAA.

During a Friday morning news conference, officials with the space weather prediction center said they will not know the intensity of the storm until the coronal mass ejections reach about a million miles from Earth. They travel at 800 kilometers (497 miles) per second, meaning scientists will have 20 to 45 minutes to determine the intensity before any potential effects are felt or seen.

“Because we’re talking about something (that originates) 93 million miles away, it is extremely difficult to forecast with a very good degree of accuracy,” said Shawn Dahl, a service coordinator with the space weather prediction center.

But, he and others added, if the solar storm does reach the G4 level, sky gazers should look up in the “late evening to post-midnight hours.”

For best viewing, the National Weather Service recommends looking to the north and trying to get away from city lights. The darker the sky, the better for viewing, weather officials say.

While Friday night appears to be the best chance for viewing, the aurora may also be visible Saturday night into Sunday.

Will Friday’s rain affect my potential viewing?

One key requirement to seeing the aurora is clear skies − meaning Friday’s wet weather may hinder potential viewing.

Rain is expected to continue on and off throughout much of the day in Delaware, though radar shows it tapering off around 9 p.m.

WEEKEND WEATHER: Grab your raincoats, Delaware. It’s going to be a dreary weekend with rain, cloudy skies

Still, cloud cover is predicted at: 100% at 10 p.m., 98% at 11 p.m., 98% at midnight, 97% at 1 a.m. and 93% at 2 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

While Delaware will likely have an overnight reprieve from rain, a frontal system developing over the Midwest will cause precipitation to return to the Mid-Atlantic on Saturday with another round of rain and thunderstorms.

The storm will be weaker than Friday’s, however, and severe thunderstorms are not expected, NWS said.

What are the northern lights? 

The aurora borealis is a glow produced by electrons that float down to the Earth’s magnetic field from space.  The electrons crash with atoms and molecules of the atmosphere in a ring on the Earth’s magnetic pole, according to NOAA. 

All that commotion produces multicolor bulbs of light, which can be seen in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, respectively.  

Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com. For all things breaking news, follow her on X at @izzihughes_