Long Island Crash Kills Toddler, Seriously Injures Mother: PD

PATCHOGUE, NY — A Long Island mother was seriously injured and her toddler died Monday night after they were both struck by a pickup truck crossing the street, Suffolk police said.

At about 6:20 p.m., Vilma Graciela Maurad Centeno, 21, had been pushing her two-year-old daughter, Nataly Brito Maurad, in a stroller westbound across Route 112 in Patchogue when they were struck by a northbound 2005 Ford pickup truck, Suffolk police said.

Nicholas Harding of Bellport was driving on the roadway on his way to a client’s house when he heard the crash.

“I knew right away that someone had been hit,” he said.

From Harding’s observations, the mother and child were thrown about 40 to 50 feet onto the south side of the roadway, and afterward, a purple pocketbook remained stuck in the truck’s grille after the crash, he said.

Harding used his car to block traffic and began motioning to motorists to slow down while police and emergency medical services were en route. Good Samaritans rushed to the pair’s side, but they were unresponsive, he said.

EMS arrived within minutes, Harding said, adding, “They were all racing to the scene.”

The mother and child were transported to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue, where Maurad was pronounced dead, police said. Maraud Centeno, of Patchogue, was then taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of “serious injuries,” according to police.

Harding, who has a 14-year-old son, said his heart goes out to their family.

He said that he would like to see changes on the roadway to make it safer for people to walk, as well as more awareness by residents to practice safety on the roadway. It could be much safer for pedestrians if lighted walkways similar to those in Patchogue village, and additional street lighting, were installed along the dark roadway, he said.

It would also be much safer for pedestrians if they took care to wear lighter clothing while out running errands.

In recent months, Harding said he has seen people walking along the roadway in dark-colored clothing and he has wondered if they know they cannot be seen by motorists properly.

“They don't think about the safety factor when they go outside the house and they should wear light clothing,” he said.

The stretch of roadway near where the crash happened, which is in front of a Hertz Rent-a-Car and a bodega, particularly needs more lighting, Harding said.

“It's very dark going north,” he added.

The pickup truck’s driver, James Maupin Jr., 62, of Holtsville, was not injured, according to police.

No criminal charges have been filed, but the truck was impounded for a safety check, police said.

The child’s stroller was removed from the scene and is being stored as evidence by police at their property section in Yaphank, a spokeswoman said.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the crash to call the 5th Squad at 631-854-8552.