Mother, Child Struck By Suffolk County Bus

MIDDLE ISLAND, NY – A Long Island woman and her 4-year-old daughter were struck by a Suffolk County Transit bus Monday evening, police said. The child was seriously injured.

According to Suffolk Police, 27-year-old Heather Lee, of Shoreham, and her daughter, Willow Lee, were walking westbound and crossing a parking lot entrance on the north side of Route 25 in Middle Island when they were struck by the bus at about 6:55 p.m.

The bus had been traveling eastbound on Route 25 when the bus driver made a left into a parking lot located at 1175 Middle Country Road when the crash occurred.

Heather and Willow were both transported by Middle Island Rescue to Stony Brook University Hospital. Willow suffered head trauma and was listed in serious condition. Heather suffered non-life threatening injuries. The bus driver, 63-year-old Thomas Lowitt, of Islip, was not injured.

Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Safety Section officers responded and conducted a safety check on the bus. The investigation is continuing.

Earlier this month, a 64-year-old woman was struck and killed by a Suffolk County Transit bus in Lindenhurst.