Mother Dies After Saving Daughter's Life

LINDENHURST, NY – A Long Island woman saved her daughter's life and then lost her own after being struck by a car Sunday morning.

According to Suffolk Police, Diane Aluska and her 16-year-old daughter Jenna were walking on the sidewalk in front of 225 Wellwood Ave. in Lindenhurst when they were struck by a 2005 Toyota Corolla that was backing out of a diagonal parking spot at about 9:10 a.m.

Ann Riolo, 80, drove the Corolla onto the sidewalk in reverse, police said. The car struck the Lindenhurst Fire Department after hitting the pedestrians.

Diane Aluska pushed her daughter out of the way of the car, police said.

"From what we see, I have no doubt that she saved her daughter's life," Det. Sgt. James Murphy said, according to a News 12 report.

Diane Aluska, 55, was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip where she was pronounced dead. Jenna Aluska and Riolo, of Lindenhurst, were also transported to Good Samaritan for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

No criminal charges have been filed. Police are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the First Squad at 631-854-8152.

Diane Aluska, a mother of three, worked at the Babylon Town Clerk's Office, "where she served residents of the town with dedication, compassion and a big smile," Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer said on his Facebook page.

An online fundraiser for the Aluska family has been started here.