SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. – A West Sayville woman has been indicted after prosecutors say she struck a parked vehicle, later hit a jogger from behind and then moved her damaged SUV several times before police found it.
Heather Foster, 50, faces felony charges following the May 16 crashes on Brook Street, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors allege surveillance video and vehicle debris helped investigators trace the 2021 Mazda CX-5 back to Foster.=
Prosecutors Detail Two Crashes on Brook Street
According to prosecutors, Foster was driving east on Brook Street at about 4:38 a.m. May 16 when her Mazda allegedly sideswiped a parked white Honda CR-V, causing significant damage to the driver’s side.
Foster allegedly continued driving without stopping or notifying police. Investigators said she drove around the West Sayville area for approximately 50 minutes before a second collision.
At about 5:29 a.m., a woman was jogging east along Brook Street when Foster’s SUV allegedly struck her from behind, prosecutors said.
Detectives recovered surveillance video that captured the collision. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Foster stopped briefly and looked at the unconscious woman on the ground before returning to her vehicle and driving away.
“Leaving the scene of a crash does not make it go away,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said.
The injured jogger was eventually discovered by an Uber driver and passenger, who called 911. She was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where prosecutors said she underwent numerous surgeries for a compound fracture of her left leg and other injuries.
SUV Allegedly Moved Three Times After Crashes
Investigators with the Suffolk County Police Department used surveillance footage to track Foster’s movements after the second collision, according to prosecutors.
Foster allegedly drove from West Sayville to a family member’s home in Medford. Later that day, prosecutors say she moved the Mazda to a friend’s home in Bohemia, where it was stored inside a garage.
Several days later, Foster allegedly moved the SUV again, this time placing it inside the garage at her West Sayville home.
Detectives with the Suffolk County Police Department’s Major Case Unit eventually traced the vehicle there. Foster was taken into custody May 20, and investigators seized the Mazda.
Prosecutors said the vehicle had visible front-end damage to its hood and passenger side that was consistent with both collisions. Pieces allegedly belonging to Foster’s vehicle were also recovered at both crash scenes.
“Evidence recovered from both scenes allegedly show the defendant’s deliberate attempt to evade responsibility for damaging a parked vehicle and seriously injuring a pedestrian,” Tierney said. “My office will seek to hold this defendant accountable for the charges she now faces.”
Foster Faces Felony Charges
Foster was arraigned Thursday before Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski on charges of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting resulting in serious physical injury and tampering with physical evidence, both Class E felonies.
She was also charged with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting property damage, a traffic infraction.
Pilewski placed Foster on supervised release and suspended her driver’s license while the case is pending. Prosecutors said the charges are not bail eligible under current New York law.
Foster is scheduled to return to court Oct. 28. She faces 1⅓ to four years in prison if convicted of the top count and is represented by attorney Richard Pellegrino.
Heather Foster is accused of fleeing two separate crashes.
Prosecutors allege she first struck a parked SUV and later hit a jogger from behind on Brook Street in West Sayville.
The jogger suffered serious injuries.
The woman was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital and underwent multiple surgeries, including treatment for a compound fracture of her left leg.
Prosecutors say Foster moved her Mazda several times afterward.
Investigators allege the SUV was taken to properties in Medford and Bohemia before being moved to Foster’s West Sayville garage.