Police: Hit-And-Run Driver Caught On Camera Striking 13-Year-Old Boy On Long Island
NORTH LAWRENCE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police are searching for the driver who struck a 13-year-old boy on Long Island and failed to stop at the scene.
The boy was rushing to cross a street to get to a haircut appointment in North Lawrence on Sunday when the car hit him, CBS2's Christina Fan reported.
Surveillance video shows the boy running into traffic - right into a moving car. His body catapults onto the sidewalk as the driver pulls away.
"It's terrible. Terrible to leave the kid on a street like that," said Izzy Boboyev, owner of Royal Barber Shop.
Boboyev's surveillance camera captured to the collision and the driver taking off.
Boboyev said he's been cutting the boy's hair since he was 3. He believes the boy was in a rush to cross Burnside Avenue to get to his appointment.
"When I saw the mother, she was panicking and then I realized it was my customer," Boboyev said. "I told her to calm down, everything will be OK, don't worry."
Police released pictures of the car involved in the hit-and-run. It's described as a gray or blue Volkswagen Passat.
On Monday, Fan reported seeing many people make the dangerous decision to dash across the same street to get to a business on the other side.
Neighbors said they've been calling for another traffic light or crosswalk there for years.
"It's very hectic. Nothing is coordinated between the light down there and there," said Paul Dimassi, who works in the area. "They are still making turns, there's no break."
After the crash, the driver continued heading eastbound on Burnside Avenue toward Rockaway Turnpike while the teen was left withering in pain.
People who watched the video called the driver heartless.
"Just awful. Just awful," one person told CBS2.
"I feel very, very sorry about the kid. Very nice kid. I hope he's gonna do OK," said Boboyev.
The teen was hospitalized with cuts to his head and knees. He is expected to be OK.
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run or the driver is asked to call Nassau County Police.
CBS2's Christina Fan contributed to this report.