Crossing Guard Struck And Killed By Truck In Hempstead
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - A crossing guard was struck and killed by a truck at the corner of South Franklin and Grove Streets in Hempstead at around 10:20 a.m. Friday morning.
The victim, identified as Virginia Carol Leviner, had been a crossing guard for 35 years and had worked that corner for 28 years. She and her husband Tallie have three grown children and seven grandchildren. She was affectionately known as "Miss Carol."
Witnesses told CBS2's Jennifer McLogan that the 67-year-old crossing guard was holding up her stop sign as the tractor-trailer was coming down the street and did not stop.
"From the witnesses that we've heard, she put her stop sign out, as she always did -- she never left home without her stop sign -- she saved a young child's life," Leviner's daughter told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.
"The kids was out here screaming. This corner is dangerous," witness Atiya Lombardo told McLogan. "She died protecting the kids, what she loved to do."
Her husband, Tallie, said he spoke with a witness who told him "the child didn't see the truck, she did. She ran out, pushed the child, waving her stop sign," 1010 WINS' Roger Stern reported.
"When I went down there, I seen her on the ground, she was laid down," witness Kherani Kessoon said. "The truck ran over her, the back wheels. I heard she was trying to save a kid from getting hit by the truck."
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The children crossing were heading to Hempstead elementary and middle schools.
"Even though, when I come out of my door and it's like 9 o'clock and she's getting ready to get in her car to go, she'd come out and walk me across the street," said witness Theresa Williams.
"She was just that nice of a sweet, loving, cared-about-people person," one community member said.
"She's my friend," Lombardo said. "I always speak to her every morning."
Leviner battled cancer five years ago, but was determined to return to work, Hall reported.
"You know there were days when I would tell her 'listen, maybe you should sit this one out, call for a replacement,' but [she'd say] 'no, no, no my kids, I've got to go,'" Tallie said. The couple met in 1963 and had been married for more than 50 years.
The truck was inspected at the scene.
A maintenance worker with the truck's company Derle Farms of Jamaica, Queens spoke to McLogan about the incident.
"Just a tragic accident. The truck checked out OK. It's just a horrible, horrible misfortune."
The shaken truck driver was taken to the hospital in shock, McLogan reported.
Police said there is no criminality at this point. The driver and his passenger remained at the scene and tried to rescue Leviner from under the wheels of the rig. Police were still working to confirm that the crossing guard was trying to save a child.
"As he made the turn the rear end of the vehicle knocked her to the ground and she struck her head," Hempstead Police Chief Michael McGowan said.
The school community has asked for a thorough investigation -- was the driver speeding or distracted?
"It cannot bring my mother back, but we want justice served in the proper way, and we still celebrate her life," Leviner's daughter Karen said.
The driver of the tractor trailer is believed to be 23-years-old. Police are looking for camera video and additional witnesses.