A tragic incident occurred in St. James where Anna Lopresti, 63, was fatally struck by a car on Middle Country Road near White Avenue. According to Suffolk County police, Lopresti was walking south across the road around 6:45 p.m. when she was hit by a 1999 Toyota Camry. She was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The driver of the Toyota was unharmed, and the vehicle has been impounded for a safety evaluation. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.

The incident is part of a larger pattern of traffic fatalities and injuries on Long Island. A Newsday investigation revealed that traffic crashes caused more than 2,100 deaths and seriously injured over 16,000 people between 2014 and 2023.

In other news, two individuals were hospitalized following a crash-landing of a Diamond training aircraft in Ilorin. The incident, involving an Aviation Training School aircraft, took place around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday during a simulated instrument approach on Runway 05 at the Ilorin International Airport. Simulated instrument approaches involve pilots using aircraft instruments for navigation, often with view-limiting devices to mimic poor weather conditions.

While there were no fatalities, both occupants sustained injuries and were taken to a medical facility. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced a formal investigation into the incident. According to the NSIB, the aircraft veered off the runway and stopped on a grass verge. The NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh, emphasized the importance of understanding what went wrong and ensuring no detail is overlooked.

The NSIB has urged the public and media to avoid speculation and await verified updates as they conduct a thorough, independent investigation to enhance aviation safety in Nigeria. More information will be provided as the investigation progresses.