Urgent: Police Seek Hit-and-Run Driver After Crash in Huntington

UPDATE: Authorities in Suffolk County are urgently searching for a driver involved in a hit-and-run crash that left a kidney transplant recipient’s car totaled. The incident occurred on November 26, 2023, around 5:50 p.m. on Park Avenue in Huntington, Long Island.

The driver, operating a dark red Subaru Crosstrek from 2018-2023, struck 68-year-old Fidel Cuadra head-on as he was preparing to turn left onto Lantern Street. Miraculously, Cuadra emerged unharmed, thanks in part to his dashcam, which captured the entire incident. The footage shows the unidentified female driver sitting in her vehicle after the collision, appearing dazed, before she reversed and fled the scene.

Cuadra’s daughter, Angelina Ortiz, expressed her frustration, saying, “This person decided to veer into my father in a head-on collision.” Cuadra, a kidney recipient for the past 12 years, relied on his 2009 Toyota Sienna for medical appointments, making the loss of his vehicle especially devastating.

Investigators recovered a piece of the suspect’s bumper at the crash site but were unable to obtain a license plate number due to the glare from Cuadra’s headlights. Police have released a freeze-frame image of the driver’s face in the hopes of identifying her.

In a bid for justice, Crimestoppers is now offering a cash reward for information leading to the driver’s arrest. Ortiz added, “I don’t wish this on anybody getting into an accident, but the fact that this person didn’t even bother to get out of the vehicle, check if he was OK or anything like that, is insane.”

Cuadra’s vehicle, now deemed a total loss, is not fully covered due to its age, leaving Ortiz and her family scrambling to secure a replacement. They are actively searching for a used vehicle to ensure Cuadra can continue attending his important medical appointments.

Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident or the suspect’s vehicle to contact the Suffolk County Police Department immediately. The community’s support could be crucial in bringing this hit-and-run driver to justice.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.