Police seek vehicle in hit-run that seriously hurt East Islip woman

Third Squad detectives are searching for the driver of a small sport utility or crossover vehicle that struck and seriously injured a woman in a hit-and-run accident earlier this month in East Islip, Suffolk police said.

The victim, identified by police as Xiu Chi, 47, of East Islip, was struck as she crossed West Main Street, just west of Carleton Avenue, at 8:35 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, police said.

Police said Chi was transported to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore with serious injuries.

The status of her recovery was not known Wednesday.

Police said the vehicle that hit Chi is believed to be a small, dark-colored SUV or crossover. Additional description was not immediately available.

Police are asking anyone with information about the hit-and-run to call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.

All calls will remain confidential, and callers are eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”