Courtney Sipes was crossing East Main Street with her mother on her way to a music lesson at Cornet Music when she was struck by a westbound white pickup truck sport utility vehicle that fled the scene at 7 p.m., according to 4th Squad detectives.
The vehicle didn’t stop or slow down.
“At first I didn’t realize what happened,” said Denise, a witness who called 911 when traffic stopped and she heard a loud noise. “I was driving and I heard her mother scream, ‘Where is my daughter!’ and I just got this sick feeling.”
Denise’s husband, Robert, a retired police officer ran over to see what happened and found Sipes underneath a parked vehicle in front of Napper Tandy’s Pub. Police quickly arrived and Sipes was taken to St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown, where she died of her injuries.
The investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone who may have information to call them at 631-854-8452 or to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.