Man Arrested in Hit and Run That Killed Long Island College Student

A 31-year-old man has been arrested in the hit-and-run crash that killed a college student who had left her car after a fender bender. 

Daniel Coppolo, of Deer Park, is being charged with manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident, tampering with evidence and reckless endangerment, Nassau County police said Sunday.

Coppolo is accused of striking 18-year-old Taranjit Parmar on Nov. 10. The Adelphi University student was driving on Hempstead Turnpike when a red pickup hit her Jeep, police said. 

Both drivers immediately pulled off the road after the accident. Parmar stepped out of her SUV to exchange insurance information. When she did, the pickup driver hit her with his truck and ran her over, leaving her to die in the street.

"She was yelling, 'No, no, stop!'" Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said. "Coppolo did not stop and drove off while she was holding onto the truck." 

Parmar was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later with trauma to the head and chest area.

Prosecutors say Coppolo knew what he had done and may have even tried to cover it up. They say he waxed and detailed his red pickup truck after the hit-and-run. 

Coppolo has a record, including a DWI. Prosecutors say they could only arrest him on the hit-and-run charges Saturday because he was already in jail for a robbery at a Target in Westbury. 

Parmar's family thanked the public for sharing more than 50 Crimestopper tips with police.

"This investigation wouldn't be where it is without the community support," the victim's father, Ranjit Parmar, said. 

Photos on the woman's Facebook page indicated she had a zest for life and loved outdoor activities. According to her LinkedIn page, Parmar was studying biology at Adelphi University; she had a 4.0 GPA and had been scheduled to graduate in 2020.