A woman who refused to ride in an SUV driven by an allegedly drunk friend was hit and killed by his vehicle as he tried to talk with her on the side of a Long Island road, police said.

Krystal Berkowitz, 21, died early Saturday after she attempted to walk home along Nesconset Highway in Setauket rather than allow her 23-year-old friend to drive her, Suffolk County police said. The driver followed her and tried to pull over to speak with her but hit her instead, police said.

Officers arriving at the scene found the friend trying to help her. He had called 911 to no avail; Berkowitz was pronounced dead at the scene, Suffolk County police said.

The 23-year-old was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated. It wasn't immediately clear whether he had an attorney.