Cops: Lakeview woman killed in head-on crash in Hempstead

A Lakeview woman was killed early Saturday when the car she was riding in crashed head-on in Hempstead.

Nassau County police said Diamond Hawkins, 25, was in a 2015 Nissan Altima when it crashed into a 2004 Mercedes-Benz on Front Street about 12:28 a.m.

The Altima was heading west on Front near Orchid Street while the Mercedes was traveling east, police said. Both vehicles were found in the eastbound lane, but police could not immediately say whether the Altima veered into oncoming traffic.

Arriving paramedics found Hawkins and an unidentified 33-year-old man, who complained of leg pain, outside the car. Police are still trying to determine who was driving at the time of the crash.

Police would not say whether alcohol was a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.

Hawkins and the man were taken by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre. Hawkins was pronounced dead shortly before 3 a.m., police said.

The 59-year-old driver of the Mercedes suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was also hospitalized, according to police.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.