A 26-year-old upstate New York man has been arrested in connection with the hit-and-run death of a New York City college student.
Authorities in Binghamton said Wednesday that Aizaz Siddiqui was due to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon on a felony charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. A grand jury will consider additional charges.
He's accused of driving off after hitting 20-year-old Stefani Lineva at about 2 a.m. Saturday on a dangerous stretch of road that police say students use to travel to the Binghamton University campus.
The student was a star tennis player from Queens in her first semester at Binghamton.
Police say Siddiqui, a Binghamton resident, was arrested based on information provided to investigators. Sources told NBC 4 New York it was a passenger inside the car that allegedly hit Lineva who tipped police off.
The name of a defense lawyer who could comment wasn't immediately available.
Speaking on Thursday, Binghamton Mayor Richard David said police had been working hard to find out what happened to the student.
Local
"All of these detectives worked round the clock since Saturday, day and night, pursuing every lead, exploring every avenue looking under every rock to solve this crime and provide closure for this family."
The news comes after Lineva's mother spoke to NBC 4 New York, saying she wanted answers after her daughter was found dead on the road without her identification or cell phone on her. Police have since said Lineva dropped her identification before she was hit.
Lineva, 20, was last seen around midnight on Friday walking home from her boyfriend's apartment, her mother Daniela Atanassova-Lineva said.
The student, originally from Queens, was found lying on the eastbound lane of Route 434 around 2 a.m. Saturday by a passing motorcyclist.
Lineva had recently transferred to Binghamton University from Adelphi University to play division one tennis.
"Stef was bright, smart, happy, always smiling and singing," her mother said.
Lineva was from Middle Village and graduated from Forest Hills High School, where she was a runner-up in the PSAL singles championship her senior year.
She made local history at age 13, becoming the youngest women's champion at West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills.
A memorial for Lineva is planned to take place at the tennis club on Friday.
