William Kear, aged 67, and his 66-year-old wife Joanne lost their lives when they were hit by an Audi A4 while driving their Chevy pickup. They were about to make a left turn into Ocean Avenue in Ronkonkoma at about 9 p.m. when the tragic accident happened.
The Audi was being driven by Kyle Glinka, aged 23, who was driving south along Ocean Avenue when the vehicle struck the truck, which caused it to overturn, police have reported.
Witnesses reported to police that as the Chevy went around the corner the light was green, while Glinka failed to yield to a red light. There was also a report that Glinka was driving at high speed when the accident took place.
The couple, who were from Medford, were transported to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Center, but their lives had already been lost.
A police officer who reported the information regarding the accident said the couple had just spent the evening with a daughter and grandchildren.
Glinka, who is a resident of Bohemia, was seriously injured and had to undergo surgery at Stony Brook University Hospital. He has been arrested and faces a DUI charge, but arraignment has not taken place yet. He could face further charges once the investigation has been completed.
Meanwhile, the family of the two grandparents is devastated by the tragic accident.
Losing two loved ones at the same time is a double tragedy for any family, and the love and care the grandparents gave to their large family including eight grandchildren will be a sad loss. The family, once they begin to come to terms with the loss, will be seeking answers, especially as it appears the accident could have been avoided if the person who caused it had not been intoxicated.
There is no excuse for that sort of behavior, especially out on busy highways and at night where reaction times to accident prevention are far shorter. The laws are laid down to prevent intoxicated drivers from getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, but unfortunately some drivers behave inconsiderately and break the law and cause unnecessary suffering to innocent victims.
The family may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the driver which will mean they will be taking some part in gaining justice for the unnecessary loss. A wrongful death claim offers financial compensation to make up for the loss and can include the cost of medical expenses prior to death, funeral expenses, an amount to cover loss of consortium and pain and suffering caused by the unexpected loss.
If you have lost a family member in an accident in New York and the loss was not your loved one’s fault, you should seek advice from an experienced New York and Long Island auto accident attorney like Richard S. Jaffe Esq. to find out if you are eligible to file a wrongful death claim. You should not leave it too long, as there is a statute of limitations of two years following an accident.
Richard S. Jaffe Esq. can be contacted for a free consultation at the Law Offices of Cohen & Jaffe LLP 2001 Marcus Avenue, Suite W295, Lake Success, NY 11042. Phone: 516-358-6900 or toll free: 800-483-6149.
