Report: Suspect says he couldn't avoid LI hit-run victim

An East Hills man arraigned Thursday in the hit-and-run death of an 81-year-old Roslyn Heights woman told police he saw her but couldn't avoid hitting her, according to court documents obtained by Newsday.

Thomas Krauss, 26, of 33 Ground Rd., is charged with leaving the scene of an accident with a death, which is a felony.

He was also charged with leaving the scene of an incident without a report, a traffic violation.

At his arraignment Thursday before First District Court Judge Tricia Ferrell, prosecutors said Krauss' Jeep Cherokee hit Vaghar Giae, 81, and he continued driving without calling authorities.

Court records state that Krauss was driving the tan 2001 Cherokee east on Warner Avenue Monday at 4:45 p.m. when, he told investigators later, he "saw a woman, could not avoid her, and heard a 'thud' in front of his car."

Giae was crossing the street at Warner Avenue and Carlyle Place, a few blocks from her home, police said.

Giae, who walked with a cane, was thrown at least 75 feet by the impact and pronounced dead at the scene, homicide detectives said.

Krauss was arrested Thursday at his home after he took his car to a Queens body shop for repairs and someone called the Nassau police department tip line, Nassau Police Det. Sgt. Anthony Repalone said.

According to court papers, Krauss told police officers he was driving alone the night of the accident.

Krauss told the judge he was unemployed.

His attorney said Krauss had been a teacher's assistant at BOCES in Suffolk County and had also worked for a start-up computer company.

Krauss' father and mother appeared in the court and told a court officer they planned to hire a private attorney.

Ferrell ordered Krauss held on $1 million bond or $500,000 bail Thursday.

After the hearing, Krauss' parents declined to comment and quickly left the courthouse.

Krauss is due back in court in Mineola on Monday.

With Matthew Chayes

and Bill Mason