Selden driver admits guilt in hit-and-run that killed New York City peace officer

A Selden man pleaded guilty to charges relating to the November midday, hit-and-run crash that killed a 37-year-old peace officer with New York City’s Department of Homeless Services as she walked along Boyle Road.

Lan Huynh Truong, 45, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an incident without reporting resulting in death, as well as operating a motor vehicle without a license.

According to court documents and his plea admissions, Truong on Nov. 5 at 11:21 a.m. swerved into the road’s right-hand shoulder lane and struck Victoria Hutson as she was walking, then got out of the vehicle and dragged the woman off the roadway before driving away in a 2016 Toyota Camry without calling 911 or rendering any aid.

Much to the chagrin of Suffolk District Attorney Raymond Tierney, Truong, who has two prior DWI convictions, faces a maximum sentence of 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison at his Aug. 12 sentencing.

“This sentence is grossly inadequate for the conduct and callousness that this defendant displayed,” Tierney said. “New York lawmakers need to fix this injustice and increase the potential sentence for leaving the scene, a crime that has life and death consequences.”

Good Samaritans who arrived shortly afterward attempted lifesaving measures, but Hutson died at the scene.

Later that evening, Suffolk Police located the Camry parked behind Truong’s residence. Investigators observed blood on the windshield, passenger-side door, and passenger-side window. The Suffolk County Crime Laboratory later confirmed the blood matched the Hutson’s.

Truong was arrested the following day.

Prosecutors noted Truong’s checkered driving past, which includes a 2016 conviction for aggravated driving while intoxicated and a 2012 conviction for driving while intoxicated.

_{Top: Truong (Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office) and Victoria Hutson (Facebook).}

Prior coverage in GLI

Brother of fatal Selden hit-and-run victim calls for justice