Apparent Hit-And-Run Accident Leaves Manorville Man In Fight To Survive
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- A father is in a battle to survive after a hit-and-run left him laying in a snowbank on Valentine's Day.
As CBS2's Valerie Castro reported, the man's family wants the driver brought to justice.
Country Club Drive in Manorville is a small, two lane road, with not much foot traffic. That's where Suffolk County Police say Nicholas Cerulli, 52, was walking Saturday night, when he was hit by a vehicle.
"Just automatically you think the worst, and then you think, why? How could this happen?" Nicholas' son Anthony said.
Anthony and his sister Nicole said their father was walking home from a family member's house. He was found on the side of the road in a snowbank near the Pine Hills Country Club. Someone in the nearby neighborhood made the discovery.
"A neighbor said they went outside and saw something on the side of the road. I think he said he heard him yelling for help," Anthony said.
Cerulli was rushed to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital in Patchogue where his family said he has a long recovery ahead of him. His injuries include two broken legs. His family believes he was hit by a very large vehicle.
"We think it might have been a truck, maybe a plow truck by the severity of the injuries. He was responsive yesterday, but not today," Nicole said.
Police said they don't know what kind of vehicle did the damage, but they are reviewing surveillance video in the area to see who drove by around that time.
Cerulli's children said their father is lucky to be alive, but they want the person responsible to come forward.
"I can only imagine if something like that happened to me, and accidents happen, but I just hope that they have in their hearts to take responsibility for their actions," Nicole said.
Cerulli's family said he will undergo several more surgeries over the next few days.
Suffolk Police said the vehicle involved likely had front end damage.