Brook Street near Cherry Avenue, Sayville, Town of Islip, Suffolk County
Developing story — Long Island Traffic coverage of the Sayville jogger hit-and-run:
- West Sayville Woman Arrested After Hit-and-Run Leaves Jogger Seriously Hurt (this report — first coverage)
- Sayville jogger struck, seriously injured in early-morning hit-and-run — police seek a dark-colored SUV
- Woman arrested for hit-and-run of Sayville jogger — Heather Foster charged
- West Sayville woman arrested in hit-and-run that seriously injured Sayville jogger — search warrant and Mazda CX-5 seized
Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Crash date & time | Saturday, May 16, 2026, approximately 5:30 a.m. |
| Location | Brook Street west of Cherry Avenue, Sayville, Town of Islip, Suffolk County |
| Victim | Michele Walters, 60, of Sayville (serious injuries) |
| Hospital | South Shore University Hospital, Bay Shore |
| Driver charged | Heather Foster, 50, of West Sayville |
| Vehicle | 2021 Mazda CX-5 (seized via search warrant) |
| Arrest | May 19, 2026, ~9:28 a.m., Cherry Avenue |
| Charge | Leaving the scene of an accident with serious physical injury (felony) |
| Court | Arraigned at First District Court, Central Islip (May 20) |
What Happened
A 60-year-old woman jogging along Brook Street in Sayville was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle that fled the scene before sunrise on Saturday, May 16, 2026, according to Northport-East Northport Daily Voice. The hit-and-run left the victim lying on the side of the road west of Cherry Avenue.
Officers from the Suffolk County Police Department were dispatched after a 911 call came in at 5:44 a.m. reporting an injured woman at that location. Investigators determined the jogger had actually been struck approximately 14 minutes earlier, around 5:30 a.m., when the vehicle hit her and immediately fled, per Daily Voice.
The victim was transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, where she was treated for serious injuries, authorities said.
Location & Road Context
Brook Street west of Cherry Avenue sits within the hamlet of Sayville in the Town of Islip. The area is a residential corridor where pedestrian activity — including early-morning joggers — is common. Suffolk County roadways in this region have been the scene of numerous serious incidents; our local database contains 305 recorded accidents in Suffolk County.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Following the crash, detectives worked to identify the vehicle involved and traced it to a home on Lorraine Circle in West Sayville. Detectives executed a search warrant at that address and seized a 2021 Mazda CX-5 that investigators believe was the SUV used in the crash, according to Daily Voice. Evidence was also collected from the property at the time of the search.
The resident of the home, identified as Foster, was placed under arrest and charged with leaving the scene of an accident with serious physical injury. She was held at the Fourth Precinct and arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Wednesday, May 20, authorities said.
Broader Impact
A charge of leaving the scene of an accident with serious physical injury in New York is a felony under state Vehicle and Traffic Law, carrying significantly stiffer penalties than a misdemeanor leaving-the-scene charge — an important distinction as Foster’s case proceeds through First District Court in Central Islip.
Timeline of the Sayville Jogger Hit-and-Run (4)
How the May 2026 Sayville hit-and-run that seriously injured jogger Michele Walters unfolded, compiled from Suffolk County Police and local news reports. The most recent update appears first.
Heather Foster, 50, of West Sayville was arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a felony count of leaving the scene of an accident with serious physical injury.
Heather Foster, 50, of West Sayville was arrested on Cherry Avenue at approximately 9:28 a.m. Fifth Squad detectives executed a search warrant at her Lorraine Circle home and seized the 2021 Mazda CX-5 believed to have been involved.
Suffolk County Police asked the public for help identifying a dark-colored SUV with front-end damage seen on Brook Street in connection with the hit-and-run.
Michele Walters, 60, was struck while jogging on Brook Street west of Cherry Avenue at approximately 5:30 a.m. The driver fled. Walters was taken to South Shore University Hospital with serious injuries.