Nov 25, 2009 11:56 pm US/Eastern
Suffolk Cops Close In On Fatal Hit-And-Run Suspect
Community In Shock After Promising 11-Year-Old Courtney Sipes Struck And Killed On Her Was To Music Lessons
SMITHTOWN, 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 say an arrest is imminent in the search for a deadly hit-and-run driver on Long Island.
That's where a family is dealing with the loss of their only daughter.
CBS 2 HD has learned the victim's own mother witnessed the crime.
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.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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