Police: Driver in fatal Copiague crash didn't know he hit woman

The driver who struck and killed a 41-year-old woman early Wednesday on Sunrise Highway in Copiague said he didn't realize he hit someone until he saw damage to his car and returned to the scene, police said.

Suffolk County police said the driver, Kieron Brister, told them he was driving his 1993 Nissan east on Sunrise at about 3 a.m., moving to the left lane near 35th Street when he saw a man to his right riding a bicycle.

He told police something hit his window and thought the cyclist had thrown something. It wasn't until he reached the home of a nearby relative that he realized the extent of the damage to his car and returned to the scene, Brister told police.

Police identified the dead woman as Samantha Crowell, 41, of Taylor Avenue, Copiague.

She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The road was closed to all eastbound traffic until 5:30 a.m., according to police.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding the accident to call detectives at 631-854-8152. All calls will remain confidential, police said.