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Woman Who Survived Car Crash Killed Going Back To Her Car
By
Ben Yakas
Published Nov 29, 2015
Modified Jul 24, 2017
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Nov 29, 2015
Modified Jul 24, 2017
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A 25-year-old Long Island woman survived a car crash early this morning, but was fatally struck by a driver when she went back to her car to get her belongings.
Police say the incident happened just before 4 a.m. Sunday when Brittany Leith, a mother of a 3-year-old girl, struck the center median on the Southern State Parkway at Exit 36. Her car flipped over, but she was able to climb out via a cracked window with help from passersby, and made it safely to the shoulder of the road.
However, she then apparently returned to her vehicle before cops arrived "despite warnings from the motorists who had assisted her," according to Newsday. While she was gathering her things, she was struck and killed by another passing driver.
Then, when police arrived and were securing the scene, a state police vehicle was struck from behind by an SUV. The officer was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in unknown condition.
It's unclear whether either of the hit-and-run drivers stayed at the scene or left, but no charges have been filed, and the investigation is ongoing.
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Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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