Father's Day hit-and-run on Staten Island leaves mother brain dead, family praying for miracle
PORT RICHMOND, Staten Island (WABC) -- A heartbroken family is speaking out, after a beloved mother was left in grave condition from a speeding hit-and-run driver who mowed her down on quiet street on Staten Island on Father's Day.
Diana Rolon's family is remembering her joyful energy.
"We're still praying for a miracle," said Rolon's niece Melissa Rolon.
The 60-year-old mom, sister and aunt they love is on life support after a hit-and-run in her neighborhood, on a typical Staten Island residential street with long blocks that some reckless drivers treat like a highway.
"She was simply standing in front of a double-parked car, waiting to cross the street again," Melissa Rolon said.
She had crossed Decker Avenue Sunday afternoon to get to her car, which is still parked at the location, to grab some cash for an item at a yard sale.
The speeding white BMW is seen on a nearby home security camera seconds before striking her.
"Speeding down the street for no reason. Even if he had a reason. Slow down. Life is precious, and you took my sister," said the victim's sister Sylvia Rolon. "You're going to pay. You are going to pay for what you did to my sister."
"If she was to survive, she was such an angel that I think she would have actually forgiven him," said the victim's brother Juan Rolon.
A nurse who heard the impact ran over and gave her first aid.
"I just saw her laying on the ground, and I knew I had to help," said the nurse, Fran McCarthy.
The family is now facing difficult decisions at a time when they were looking forward to celebrating Diana's son's high school graduation.
Her son Michael Haque says she loved being a school paraprofessional.
"She'd go in the classroom; all the kids would, like, get happy," Haque said. "She was... the best at what she did."
The Rolon family is confident police will find the driver, but they also want safety measures like speed bumps.
There is a speed camera but it's a few blocks away.
"We don't want cops to just sit on the corner for a week. We need change for the long run, you know," Melissa Rolon said.
"Slow down, guys. It's not worth it," said the victim's brother William Rolon. "You're taking away from a lot of people. I just lost my sister, my best friend, and... guys, just slow down, it's not worth it."
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help support Diana's recovery.
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