Nov 26, 2009 9:33 am US/Eastern
L.I. Hit-And-Run Suspect Surrenders To Police
Community In Shock After Promising 11-Year-Old Courtney Sipes Struck And Killed On Her Was To Music Lessons
HAUPPAGUE, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Courtney Sipes was killed Tuesday night when she was struck by a hit-and-run driver.
CBS
Police said a 20-year-old woman surrendered in the hit-run death of an 11-year-old Long Island girl.
Courtney Sipes was killed Tuesday night while crossing a street in Smithtown. CBS 2 HD has learned the victim's own mother witnessed the crime.
Det. Sgt. Richard Matero of the Suffolk County police said the driver's family persuaded her to turn herself in on Wednesday night.
She was charged with leaving the scene of an accident. Matero says no drugs or alcohol are suspected at this time.
As police continued their investigation, a mother and father were
living through unimaginable pain on Thanksgiving eve -- the loss of
their little girl.
"She was the most amazing, creative, thoughtful, caring child, who
loved art, loved to write music, loved to sing anything about music and
anything that had to do with family," Lavena Sipes said.
On Tuesday night a family watched in horror as a driver plowed into
11-year-old Courtney Sipes as she, her brother and mother walked to a
music class. The driver never stopped or slowed down.
"I saw him and thinking back I had no idea how anybody could sleep at
night or have such disregard for human life to not want to bring
closure to our family on this. He had to have known what happened,"
Lavena Sipes said.
The vehicle is believed to be a white truck or SUV and should have some
damage on the front where impact was made. And thanks to surveillance
tape and witnesses, police have a good idea who they're after.
"We've identified what we believe is the vehicle and we're looking for
the driver as we speak. And I expect an arrest is imminent in that
case," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer said.
The case is an early lesson to the little girl's classmates on the fragility of life.
"Courtney Sipes was a wonderful fifth grade student and 11-year-old child who was active in our student council, played the trumpet and was very involved in our school," principal Michelle Rothfeld said.
At the crash scene on Tuesday night there was a symbolic farewell to an angel whose family is left to wonder what this young flower might have blossomed into.
"The most loving child that didn't get to live her full potential and was definitely taken too short, too soon," Lavena Sipes said.
She was taken away by someone who then ran away.
CBS 2HD's Sean Hennessey contributed to this report.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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