4-Year-Old Dies Following Parkway Crash: State Police

MERRICK, NY — A 4-year-old child has died after being trapped in a Nissan Sentra that crashed while swerving to avoid another vehicle on June 17, police said.

New York State police said that the crash took place on the westbound side of the parkway, west of exit 20N in the Town of Hempstead at 2:02 p.m.

According to police, preliminary investigation revealed that a 31-year-old woman swerved her 2006 Nissan Sentra in efforts to avoid an unknown black vehicle, losing control of her car in the process. The car then left the roadway and struck a tree before coming to rest in a wooded area, police said.

In the aftermath of the crash, police said the woman and a 4-year-old child who was in the car with her were trapped in the car and had to be extricated. The woman was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries while the child was hospitalized in critical condition, police said.

The parkway’s westbound side was closed for several hours following the crash, with police investigating and attempting to get the duo out of the car, police said.

According to one man who stopped his car to try and help at the scene, a small group of first responders came together including an off-duty firefighter and an off-duty NYPD officer.

In an announcement Sunday, police said they were working to identify the unidentified black vehicle and its operator. Police confirmed Monday that the child had died on Wednesday, June 24. Police have not publicly identified any of the parties involved in the crash.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or may have information is encouraged to contact state police at 631-756-3300, police said.