A West Babylon man faced a judge Thursday after a hit-and-run crash on the East End killed a mother and injured her two young children.
Friends of Yuris and Wilson Cruz say their life together was a true love story. But things were tragically cut short Wednesday after eight years of marriage.
Police say Mark Corrado Jr. hit Yuris and her two kids with his pickup truck and fled the scene, leaving the 36-year-old dead and her 4-year-old and 18-month-old injured. The children are expected to be OK.
Angelica Marta has been a close friend of the Cruz family for years. She posed some questions to the driver.
"Why'd you run? Why'd you go somewhere?" says Marta. "How could you do that? I understand you're scared. It's a responsibility for every driver out there to pay attention."
Marta says Cruz had just picked up her daughter from school when they were hit in Amagansett on Route 27, less than a mile from their home.
Police say the driver's truck was found ditched in the woods. He ended up turning himself in hours later, police say.
Marta says Wilson Cruz is staying by his kids' sides.
"Right now he's trying to keep a strong face for his children," says Marta. "I'm sure he's dreading the question - 'where's Mommy?'"
Corrado Jr. was charged with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, a felony. He was released without bail.