Elderly Couple Dies In Staten Island Hit-And-Run

November 27, 2009 7:24 a.m. EST

Staten Island, NY (AHN) - An elderly couple on their way to church with cans of food to give away for Thanksgiving, died after they were struck by a hit-and-run driver. The driver, whose license is said to have been suspended two dozen times, has surrendered to authorities.

According to the New York Post, 78-year-old Peter Sabados and his 77-year-old wife Lillian Sabados were crossing New Dorp Lane Wednesday evening carrying canned goods for a food drive at their parish, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. A white Ford Econoline suddenly hit them and drove off, leaving the parish priest to help the elderly couple until the ambulance arrived.

Peter was pronounced dead at the hospital, while Lillian died the next day.

The driver, Allmir Lekperic, surrendered to authorities on Thursday, and was charged with driving with a suspended license and leaving the scene of an accident, the New York Times reports. Lekperic has had his license suspended at least 29 times in the past three years, the Times cites an unnamed law enforcement official as saying.