Driver Indicted In Hit-And-Run Death Of Boy, 7: PD

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A Southampton man was indicted Thursday on charges related to a hit-and-run crash in May that left a Mastic boy, 7, dead in May, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said.

Sini and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine announced the indictment of Phuoc Truong, a/k/a Philip Truong, 32, who was charged with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, a felony, and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

At 10:15 p.m. on May 31, Truong was driving a 2008 Toyota Camry east on Sunrise Highway in Mastic between Exit 58 and Exit 59 when he struck Sada Aljomai, 7, who had walked out of his house unattended and into the roadway, Sini said.

Truong fled the scene, Sini said.

Aljomai was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue where he was pronounced dead, Sini said.

Suffolk County Police and Sini's office conducted an extensive investigation into the crash, including a forensic analysis of a piece of the vehicle that was left at the scene, which led to the identification of Truong as the driver, the DA said.

At the time of the crash, Truong had two license suspensions, Sini said.

Truong surrendered and was arraigned virtually Thursday in front of Suffolk County Court Judge Anthony S. Senft, Jr.; he was released on his own recognizance with GPS monitoring, Sini said.

Truong is represented by William Keahon and is due back in court on Jan. 12, 2021, Sini said.

“This was an unspeakable tragedy, but we hope that the apprehension and indictment of this defendant brings some solace to the victim’s family,” Sini said.

“The death of this 7-year-old was tragic and I want to recognize the department’s major case unit detectives who spent the past six months ensuring the driver, who fled the scene, was located and held accountable for his actions,” Hart said.

Keahon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.