Sayville Jogger Struck, Seriously Injured in Early-Morning Hit-and-Run

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 — first coverage
• Sayville Jogger Struck, Seriously Injured in Early-Morning Hit-and-Run (this report — 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

What Happened

A 60-year-old Sayville woman was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash early Saturday morning after being struck by a vehicle while jogging near the intersection of Brook Street and Cherry Avenue, according to Newsday. Suffolk County police responded to the scene at approximately 5:45 a.m. and found Michele Walters lying on the ground. Emergency responders transported her to South Shore Hospital in Bay Shore, where she was treated for serious injuries.

The driver did not stop after the collision and fled the scene, leaving Walters on the pavement. Detectives launched an investigation and identified a “vehicle of interest” that had been seen on Brook Street — described as a dark-colored SUV bearing front-end damage, consistent with having struck a pedestrian. Police appealed to the public for any information that could help identify the vehicle or its driver in the immediate aftermath of the crash.

The investigation moved quickly, and within days, an arrest was made. According to News 12 Long Island, Heather Foster, 50, of West Sayville, was the driver behind the wheel when Walters was struck. Foster was reportedly operating a 2021 Mazda CX-5 when she hit the jogger on that Saturday morning and fled without stopping to render aid or contact emergency services.

The timing of the incident — just before 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday — means the streets in the area were largely quiet, with little traffic or foot activity. Walters was jogging when she was struck, which underscores the particular vulnerability of pedestrians and joggers during early morning hours when visibility can be limited and driver awareness may be diminished. Suffolk County police credited public cooperation and investigative follow-through for the relatively swift identification and arrest of the suspect.

The case drew significant attention locally, both because of the severity of Walters’ injuries and because the driver initially fled without stopping. As Newsday reported, detectives asked for the public’s help in the days following the crash, a request that contributed to building a picture of the suspect vehicle before Foster was ultimately taken into custody. The arrest was reported on May 20, 2026 — two days after Newsday’s initial coverage of the incident.

Location & Road Context

The crash occurred near the intersection of Brook Street and Cherry Avenue in Sayville, a residential area in the Town of Islip in southern Suffolk County. Brook Street is a local road that runs through quiet neighborhoods, and the area near Cherry Avenue is not a high-speed arterial corridor — making the severity of this crash all the more jarring for residents. That said, the early morning hour and the nature of the street mean pedestrians and joggers using the roadway may not always be clearly visible to drivers, particularly those who may be distracted or impaired.

Sayville is a hamlet located along the South Shore of Long Island, bordered by West Sayville — the hometown of the arrested driver, Heather Foster — and situated not far from the Great South Bay. For up-to-date conditions on local roads in this area, visit our Sayville traffic page.

Investigation & Legal Proceedings

As News 12 Long Island reported, Heather Foster, 50, of West Sayville, was arrested in connection with the hit-and-run on May 20, 2026 — roughly two days after Suffolk County police first went public with their search for the dark-colored SUV. Foster was identified as having been driving a 2021 Mazda CX-5 at the time of the incident. Authorities have not publicly detailed the exact charges filed against Foster as of the time of this report’s publication, but the arrest followed a focused investigation that included reviewing footage of the vehicle of interest on Brook Street and responding to public tips.

Suffolk County Police Department detectives led the investigation. The case remains active, and further legal proceedings — including arraignment and potential bail determinations — are expected to follow. This incident has also drawn attention in the context of another notable Sayville crash case from earlier this year, in which a crash victim filed a civil suit against a former school superintendent who had been sentenced for vehicular assault, suggesting an ongoing community focus on serious traffic offenses in the area.

Broader Impact

Under New York State law, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident — commonly known as a hit-and-run — is a felony when the victim sustains serious physical injury, carrying potential penalties of up to four years in state prison for a Class D felony. The charge level and precise specifications applicable to Foster’s case will depend on the injuries sustained by Michele Walters and the specific charges prosecutors elect to file. For more on your legal rights following a traffic accident on Long Island, visit our Know Your Rights page.