Correction — September 18, 2026: The supporting sources for this archived report were reviewed. Unrelated or unconfirmed source attachments and claims not supported by the retained source record have been removed.
What Happened
On June 17, 2026, at approximately 2:02 p.m., a single-vehicle crash occurred on the Southern State Parkway westbound, west of Exit 20N, in the Town of Hempstead. A 31-year-old woman was driving a 2006 Nissan Sentra westbound when she attempted to avoid an unknown black vehicle. She lost control, and the car left the roadway, struck a tree, and came to rest in a wooded area.
The driver was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A 4-year-old child passenger was initially transported to a hospital in critical condition. Both occupants were entrapped in the vehicle following the crash. The child later died from the injuries sustained in the collision.
The unknown black vehicle did not remain at the scene. It has not been established whether the black vehicle made physical contact with the Nissan Sentra. Investigators are working to identify the vehicle and its driver.
The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to assist in the investigation. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New York State Police at (631) 756-3300.