Good Samaritan hit by car dies

The Good Samaritan from Babylon -- who was struck by a passing vehicle and critically injured after he stopped to assist a motorist in distress last Thursday -- has died, Nassau police said.

Russell Larsen, 47, died of injuries he sustained when he came to the aid of a 49-year-old Commack man who had swerved and struck a tree while trying to avoid debris on the Long Island Expressway service road just before 6 a.m. in Roslyn Heights.

His act of generosity didn't surprise Larsen's family, who said he had shown compassion for people and animals throughout his life. "He was very helpful," said Keith Larsen, a brother. "That was his life."

Russell Larsen noticed the overturned vehicle, a 2000 Honda, and pulled his truck over to help, police said. That's when Larsen was struck by another vehicle, a 1993 Chevy driven by a Greenvale man, police said. That driver remained at the scene, near the intersection of Roslyn Road, and wasn't hurt.

Larsen's injuries were so severe that he was feared dead at the scene, police said. But he was revived and taken to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, where he died.

The driver of the Honda wasn't seriously hurt.

Larsen was a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service, where he worked as a motor vehicle operator, said Krista Riemma, a spokeswoman.

Keith Larsen said they grew up in West Islip and attended public schools. He added that his brother had recently become the father of a girl, Rosell, who is 1 year old.

Visiting will take place Wednesday and Thursday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Claude R. Boyd-Spencer Funeral Homes in West Islip. Services will be on Friday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in North Babylon Cemetery.