55-year-old Diane Aluska saw a car traveling in reverse toward herself and her daughter Sunday in Lindenhurst, leading to the mother saving her daughter’s life, but dying herself. According to a statement by Suffolk County police detective Sgt. James Murphy, there is no doubt Aluska saved her 16-year-old daughter Jenna’s life on Mother's Day when the Toyota Corolla barreled toward them at speed and in reverse.

Mother and daughter were leaving church after attending Sunday mass

The pair was leaving the Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church in Lindenhurst at 9:15 a.m.

on Mother's Day, after attending mass, and were walking together down South Wellwood Avenue when it happened. Police say an 80-year-old driver, Ann Riolo, had just backed out of the parking lot at a bakery and police say while the lady thought she had put the car in drive, the vehicle was still in reverse.

As Riolo put her foot on the accelerator, the car jumped the curb, heading straight for Aluska and her daughter. According to Murphy, the vehicle missed three parked cars but ended up heading straight for the two women. Aluska immediately reacted by putting her hand on her daughter’s shoulder, pushing her out of the way just in time, but was herself hit and killed. The teenager was barely clipped by the vehicle in the incident, while her mother took the brunt of the collision.

Aluska and her daughter were taken to a nearby hospital

Both the mother and daughter were taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, where Aluska passed away. Jenna was listed as being in a stable condition, according to police.

Aluska’s husband, Kenneth Aluska, told the New York Post that Jenna was unaware of her mother’s passing when he visited the hospital that night.

He said that he and her brother would have to tell Jenna. Diane leaves three children and her husband and reportedly worked in the clerk’s office in Babylon.

As reported by the New York Daily News, Riolo was also taken to the Good Samaritan Hospital but had only suffered minor injuries. The trunk of her Toyota Corolla was caved in from the Mother's Day collision.

According to police, she will probably not be charged for her actions, as it appears to have been a tragic accident. However, police will be inspecting her car.

A tragedy on Mother’s Day

According to witnesses, the street where the collision happened was strewn with carnation flowers and rolls from the nearby bakery. It is believed the mother and daughter had visited the bakery just before the car hit. One neighbor in the area said it Aluska’s death was tragic, but what made it even more tragic was that it happened on Mother’s Day.