Police are searching for the driver who hit-and-killed a 7-year-old boy in Mastic on Sunday.

Police say Sadq Aljomi, who had autism, wandered out of his residence unattended late Sunday and traveled several blocks to a dead-end street, and then cut through a wooded path that leads to the eastbound lanes of Sunrise Highway between exits 58 and 59.

The child was then struck by a motor vehicle that fled the scene.

The boy was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue, where he was pronounced dead.

Police say they received three calls from people who saw the boy wandering - one from a driver on the highway and another from a neighborhood resident. Neighbors say this wasn't the first time the child was found wandering on the path near Sunrise Highway.

"A couple of weeks ago he was just out here walking barefoot, cold ... this isn't the first time but sadly it's the last time," says Angela Castillo.

Those who lived on the dead-end street say they have complained about the broken fence that should keep pedestrians away from the highway.

Detectives say Child Protective Services were notified and is investigating. They are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6555 or Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.