Cops: Girl, 14, 'very fortunate' to survive Hempstead Turnpike hit-run
A 14-year-old Levittown girl is "very fortunate" to be alive after she was struck by a hit-and-run driver and two other vehicles while crossing Hempstead Turnpike, Nassau police said Friday.
The unidentified student, who had just left her school, was walking with three classmates. She crossed the turnpike without them, against the light, and was hit by an eastbound car near Shelter Lane in Levittown at 3:52 p.m. Thursday, police said.
"After she was struck, she was thrown in the air," Insp. Kenneth Lack said.
The girl was in the middle lane when she was first hit, and then was struck by other vehicles that couldn't stop in time, police said. She suffered broken bones but was in stable condition Friday, police said.
"She was very fortunate that she was not killed," Lack said.
The driver of the first car -- described as a tan, four-door sedan -- did not stop, Lack said. The other drivers remained at the scene.
Levittown Public Schools Superintendent James J. Grossane identified the victim only as a Division Avenue High School freshman. The school is located about a half-mile from where the accident occurred.
"The safety and security of our students is a top priority in our district, and throughout the schools we are reinforcing the importance of traffic safety," Grossane said in a statement.
Friday, police were checking red-light cameras and security footage from businesses along the turnpike in hopes of finding the hit-and-run vehicle.
The girl was initially taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow but has since been transferred to an undisclosed hospital for further treatment, police said.
Police are urging any witnesses to contact them, in particular anyone who sees a tan, four-door sedan with front-end damage.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS.
All calls will remain confidential.
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