New York City

College Student From Queens Killed in Upstate Hit-and-Run Crash

Police in Binghamton are investigating a hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a college student from New York City over the weekend. 

Authorities say 20-year-old Stefani Lineva, of Queens, was found lying on the eastbound lane of Route 434 around 2 a.m. Saturday. She was taken to UHS Wilson Medical Center in neighboring Johnson City, where she was pronounced dead. 

Police say she had suffered severe injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle. 

Binghamton University officials say Lineva was a member of the college's tennis team who was in her first semester at the college after transferring from Adelphi University on Long Island. 

In a statement released Sunday, Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger praised the student's "spirit, passion and engagement" with everyone she met on campus.

"On behalf of the University community, I offer my deepest condolences to Stefani's family, teammates, classmates and all who knew and loved her," Stenger said. "Please keep her and her family in your thoughts as we all mourn her loss."

Stenger said the school would be offering counseling and other support services.

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.

Her head coach at Binghamton University, Libby McGovern, called her "an exceptional teammate who had personal relationships with so many people on our team and across the university." 

"She loved being at practice with her friends and was always the first one to volunteer when we performed community service," McGovern said. "She had very high aspirations of making a difference in the world and doing great things for other people. We are heartbroken." 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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