'Our Lives Changed Forever': Mother Of LI Man Killed In PA Hit-And-Run Seeks Justice

MASTIC, NY — The mother of a Long Island man killed in a hit-and-run in Pennsylvania is seeking justice for her son, hoping to get the word out there that the driver needs to be apprehended.

Kyle Elardo, 27, of Shirley, had been traveling back and forth to Pennsylvania for work, staying there for a few weeks at a time before coming home to the island, when he was fatally struck on Sept. 17 in Penn Forest Township of Carbon County, his mother, Danielle Elardo told Patch.

"On the night of Sept. 17, 2026, our lives changed forever," she said.

Elardo was discovered dead on State Route 903 in the northbound lane of travel, and through investigation it was determined that at some point while riding his SUV, "for unknown reasons," he fell off of it, Pennsylvania state police said.

Investigators did note that it had been raining.

He "remained in the northbound travel lane," a statement from police said, adding, that the ATV came to a controlled stop off the roadway near a small tree on the right side of the road, displaying no damage."

Elardo was then struck by a vehicle believed to be a Subaru sedan “that failed to stop after the initial impact and fled the scene in an unknown direction of travel,” police said.

It’s believed to have driver-side front fender damage, according to police.

Elardo’s ATV was taken back to the police station at Fern Ridge and placed into evidence, police said.

Police said Elardo’s case “remains open pending further investigation.

It is believed that a second driver struck Elardo, but thought they struck a deer, not a person, and instead kept going, according to his mother.

"Our family has also been given additional information directly by investigators concerning a second impact involving a possible tractor-trailer," she said. "We were told the tractor-trailer driver may have believed they struck a deer."

They were also told by police that "had the first driver stopped and Kyle received medical attention, the outcome could have been different," she explained.

"That is something I have to live with as his mother," she said.
"But right now, my focus is finding the driver who struck my son and left without stopping."

The actual photograph of the suspected vehicle has been released publicly, and Elardo believes that at this point, "someone has to know something," she said.

"Maybe you recognize the vehicle," she said. "Maybe you know someone whose Subaru suddenly had front-end damage. Maybe you work at a body shop, repair shop, dealership, parts store, or towing company and remember seeing a vehicle matching the description."

"Maybe you were traveling on or near Route 903 in Penn Forest Township on the night of Sept. 17 and have dashcam footage you haven't thought to check," she said. "Maybe someone told you something that didn't seem important at the time."

"Please do not stay silent," she added.

Elardo says her son's story isn't "just another story you saw on the news."

"He was my son," she added. "He was 27 years old. He had an entire family on Long Island waiting for him to come home."

She's asking anyone with information, to contact:
Investigator Brian Siemon at Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Fern Ridge at 570-646-2271.

Anyone who does not feel comfortable contacting police directly, can message her privately, she says.

"I will make sure that information gets to the investigators," she said. "No detail is too small."

She asked members of the public not to limit sharing to Pennsylvania, but share it in New York, New Jersey, and "everywhere."

"Cars travel, people travel," she said. "Someone could have seen damage to this vehicle hundreds of miles away. One share could put this photograph in front of the person who recognizes that car."

"Our family is trying to survive an unimaginable loss while also fighting for answers and justice for Kyle," she said. "This is going to be a long and difficult road for our family."

"Forever 27, forever my son, forever loved," she added.