NY Woman Survives Car Crash, Dies after Crossing Highway to Get her Purse

A woman from New York was struck and killed by a car minutes after surviving her own car crash.

The victim, a 25-year-old single mother Brittany Leith of North Babylon in Long Island, was involved in a car crash on the Southern State Parkway at around 3:54 a.m. ET. While she was returning home from a friend's house, Leith hit a center median, which caused her car to flip upside down by Exit 36.

With the help of other drivers, Leith was able to come out of her car and walk way from the wreckage. However, despite being safe and alive, Leith decided to cross the highway in order to retrieve her purse, which was inside of her car, the state police said.

Despite the good Samaritans' pleas, Leith attempted to run across the busy highway. Right before Leith reached her car, she was fatally hit by a passing vehicle. The same vehicle also hit her car, which was overturned on the left lane. Her car did not have any lights on.

The driver who hit Leith told the police that he had moved to the left lane due to the lights and commotion on the right side. He did not see Leith or her car. The police revealed that the driver did not have alcohol in his system and had cooperated with them fully.

"She has a 3-year-old daughter . . . who doesn't have a mother anymore," said the victim's grandmother, Anna Leith, 75 reported by the New York Post. "She was the best mother in the world. She loved Zoey more than anything."

The elder Leith added, "I was told someone was there to help her out of the car, but she could have hit her head and been out of it. Somebody should have held on to her and not let her run back into the street."

Another mini car accident involving the police officer that responded to the call also took place. The state police car that was arriving to secure the scene got hit from behind by another passing vehicle. The cop was taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Islip to get treatment for bruises and back pain.

FOX News reported that there is an autopsy scheduled for Leith.