Mother Killed, Daughter Seriously Injured In Long Island Crash

WYANDANCH, NY — An 18-year-old man was seen by a police officer "weaving in and out of traffic and driving into oncoming traffic" before he crashed into another car, killing a woman inside and seriously injuring the woman's 11-year-old daughter, Suffolk police said.

According to police, 30-year-old Jennifer Figueroa was driving a 2015 Hyundai Sonata and turning left onto Lincoln Avenue from Little East Neck Road in Wyandanch when her car was struck by a 2018 BMW heading north on Little East Neck Road at 3:47 p.m.

Figueroa, of Wyandanch, was taken Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip where she was pronounced dead. Her daughter, 11-year-old Anahi Sanchez, a passenger in the Hyundai, was taken to the same hospital for treatment of serious injuries, police said.

The driver of the BMW, 18-year-old Franklyn Charles, and a 14-year-old passenger were evaluated and released from the hospital.

Charles, of West Babylon, was charged with reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. He was held overnight at the First Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip Saturday.

Major Case Unit detectives are continuing the investigation into the crash. Anyone with information can call 631-852-6553 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.