An Indian-origin mother of three was mowed down by a van outside her house as she was putting the garbage out.

Nina Sharma, 49, was in front of her family's East Meadow home late Thursday night when a gray van careened out of the darkness and struck her at the curb before escaping.

Sharma, mother of three teenaged boys, was hurled at least 30 feet down the street and landed in front of a neighbour's home.

Her husband, Rajinder Sharma, was inside the house when he heard the horrifying thump and ran out.

He said he spotted her body down the street and ran to her, but she had suffered massive and fatal head trauma.

Sharma was taken to Nassau University Medical Centre, where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators found pieces of the car in the street and are analysing them, hoping that it will lead them to the hit-and-run driver.

Neighbours have been placing flowers at the site where her body was discovered.

Sharma moved to East Meadow from Flushing, Queens, a year ago.

Nassau County police are now asking for help in finding the driver of the van, believed to be a grey or tan Chrysler or Dodge with front end damage.