Merokean killed crossing Sunrise Highway

A 56-year-old Merrick woman was struck and killed by a silver Toyota SUV in front of the Merrick train station while crossing the Sunrise Highway at Hewlett Avenue today at 6:25 a.m.

Police identified the woman as Susan Reffke, who was rushed to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where she was pronounced dead at 8:51 a.m.

Police said the driver was a 46-year-old woman, whom they did not identify. There was no "apparent criminality," according to officials.

At the scene this morning, the Toyota was pulled over on the north side of the Sunrise Highway, about 100 feet west of Hewlett Avenue. The driver was gone. The vehicle’s front taillight on the driver’s side was crumpled in. Clothes were strewn across the road beside the vehicle. There was no word on a cause of the accident.

Nassau County Police shut down the westbound side of the Sunrise Highway between Hewlett and Merrick avenues for an investigation, snarling westbound traffic for miles during the height of the morning commute. Police were advising motorists to use an alternate route around the area if possible.

Police have since opened both lanes of Sunrise Highway to traffic. The driver's vehicle was impounded for safety checks.