East Quogue Woman Killed In Hit-And-Run In North Babylon Leaves Behind Two Children

A mother of two from East Quogue was killed on Monday in North Babylon when she was struck by a delivery van, fell under the truck and was dragged for several blocks.

The driver of the van, Donnell Hicks, 26, of Queens, was arrested by Suffolk County Police a short time later and charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, a felony.

Mr. Hicks, of Springfield Gardens, an AutoZone delivery man, was driving a 2017 Dodge Ram work truck when he struck AnnMarie Christina, 38, of East Quogue. He also struck Eric Krems, 40, who suffered non-life threatening injuries, according to a police press release. Police did not provide an address for Mr. Krems.

After striking the two people in front of the Deer Park Avenue AutoZone at approximately 1:04 p.m., Mr. Hicks continued traveling north on Deer Park Avenue, dragging Ms. Christina, who was caught underneath the vehicle.

According to police, when Mr. Hicks turned right onto Shade Street, Ms. Christina was freed from the undercarriage and came to rest in the roadway. Mr. Hicks continued on his route.

Ms. Christina and Mr. Krems were both transported to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where Ms. Christina was pronounced dead. Mr. Krems was released after being treated for minor injuries, police said.

Suffolk County Police detectives later located Mr. Hicks at approximately 1:57 p.m. at the AutoZone on Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, where he was arrested.

Mr. Hicks was transported to the Suffolk County Police Department’s 6th Precinct on Middle County Road in Selden and held overnight for morning arraignment at 1st District Court in Central Islip. He was held in lieu of a $250,000 bond or $100,000 cash bail, according to court documents.

He is due to appear back in court on Friday, August 2.

Ms. Christina was remembered by her sister, Jillienne Christina, as “the most loving person who would do anything for you—beautiful inside and out.”

In a Facebook comment on Tuesday, she said that Ms. Christina loved to ride horses and that she was looking forward to the fall, her favorite season. “Halloween was her favorite holiday,” she said.

Most important, Ms. Christina said that her sister loved being a stay-at-home mother to her two children, Aidan, 11, and Alexa, 7.

Ms. Christina’s other sister, Gina Christina, started a GoFundMe in her late sister’s name, calling her “a beautiful, quick witted and strong young lady.”

“She could accomplish anything she set her mind to,” she said.

In just 17 hours since the fundraiser was created, donations have surpassed the family’s $15,000 goal. As of Wednesday morning, the family has collected a total of $18,890 to be used for funeral arrangements and financial support for Alexa and Aidan.

According to the GoFundMe, Ms. Christina’s mother, Donna Christina, has suffered two years of chronic illness, which Ms. Christina wrote “have taken a severe toll on our financial stability.”

“At such a difficult time, it is our faith in God that keeps us afloat,” Gina Christina wrote. “At the end of the day, we all celebrate her life, her smile, her love and how blessed we were to have her in our lives.”