Police are still seeking the driver of the vehicle that struck and killed 14-year-old West Hempstead resident Jessica Savarese, who was killed on Friday, May 7, at approximately 10:54 p.m. while crossing Hempstead Turnpike at Claflin Boulevard.

Police are seeking for the vehicle they believe to be a 1987 to 1991 Ford Taurus. According to Detective Lieutenant Kevin Smith of the Nassau County Police Public Information Office, police are still actively seeking the vehicle and also looking for information concerning the incident.

Savarese, 14, was a freshman a H. Frank Carey High School, where she had her whole life ahead of her. Carey Principal Douglas Monaghan described her as a kind and loving person.

According to Principal Monaghan, Savarese wanted to be a teacher because she wanted to give back to other children what she felt she had gained from teachers.

Savarese was a B-plus student, played junior high school lacrosse but didn't play any varsity sports. "She had a love of the school. Wherever cheerleaders would show up or Pirettes (the kickline squad), wherever there were performances where kids had an opportunity to show their enthusiasm, she was there," Principal Monaghan said.

The principal said the death of Savarese has shot through the school like a thunderbolt, but the school is recovering. "It's devastating to lose children at any point," he said.

The day after the funeral for Savarese, which was held on May 11, which was attended by Principal Monaghan and a multitude of Carey students, the principal said it was a normal day, although the grieving process continues. "There may be individual students who still need some counseling and that's, of course, taking place, but not at the level of Monday (May 10) when I had to make the unfortunate announcement about Jessica's passing, when we set up basically rooms for people to go to with their counselors and with their school psychologists," he said.

Savarese was with two friends on their way to a sleepover when she was killed. "They seem to be doing better. It's just a hard thing dealing with what they saw," Principal Monaghan said.

New York State Assemblyman James Conte (R,C - Huntington Station) is promoting the Hit, Run & Hide Protection Act that would increase the penalty for leaving the scene of a fatal auto accident from a Class E to a Class D felony and carry a prison term of up to seven years, nearly doubling the current sentencing provisions.