Pedestrian killed on LIE

By LAURA RIVERA | laura.rivera@newsday.com

1:15 PM EDT, May 11, 2008

An unidentified male pedestrian was struck and killed by a car on an eastbound lane of the Long Island Expressway early Sunday, the Suffolk police said.

Around 3:15 a.m., the driver of a 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage was heading east on the right lane of the LIE, east of exit 51, when the pedestrian entered his traffic lane, police said.

The driver, Hector Lopez, 26, of Yaphank, swerved to avoid the pedestrian but hit him, police said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The car was impounded for a safety check, police said, and no charges have been filed against Lopez. Detectives are asking for the public's help in identifying the man, described as Hispanic and possibly in his 50s.

The victim had graying brown hair and a moustache and wore a brown leather belt imprinted with the words "El Salvador;" a red, white and blue-striped collared shirt, a green zippered hooded sweatshirt, and black sneakers. The man had no form of identification when he was found, police said.

Anyone with information about the accident can call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS or Second Squad detectives at 631-854-8252.