Hit And Run Devastates Long Island Family; Cops Ask For Public's Help
SELDEN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The search is on for driver involved in a hit and run that killed a loving grandfather on Long Island. On Monday night the victim's devastated family is pleading with the driver to turn himself in.
CBS 2's Sean Hennessey spoke with the victim's daughters.
Like he did every day, Marijan Crnkovic went to cross Middle Village Road on Saturday night. Only this time he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver.
"Words can't go through your mind when you lose someone so dear to your heart," daughter Aisha Rodriguez said.
On Monday night, Crnkovic's daughters spoke lovingly of their good hearted father.
"If he had $5 in his pocket he would give it to you if he didn't have food or anything," Natalija Crnkovic said.
They also lashed out at the driver, who was spotted by a witness driving a dark colored SUV, slamming into Marijan Crnkovic and then taking off.
"She said when he hit my father he was going about 60 mph and he had rolled down the window," Aisha said. "He slowed down and looked back but he didn't stop."
He left the 58-year-old native of Croatia lying in the street, barely breathing. Crnkovic died that night at the hospital.
"My daughter is 3 and a half and she's just like grandpa is with Jesus sleeping with the angels. How can you explain that?" Natalija Crnkovic said.
Also unexplainable to those left behind was the callousness of it all.
"I don't think this guy has a heart. I mean I'm sure he has a mother and I'm sure his mother didn't raise him like that," Natalija said.
Despite that, there was compassion.
"We forgive you but you need to come forward and justice needs to be served, but we do forgive you," Natalija said.
Suffolk County police have told auto body shops to look for SUVs with recent front end damage. As for surveillance videos, so far police say no cameras have picked up what happened. They are asking for witnesses to come forward.
Police are analyzing the victim's clothes, hoping to lift any paint chips that may have come from the SUV.
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