Former Nassau College wrestling star dies in crash

A former wrestling star at Nassau Community College and Brentwood High School was killed Wednesday after his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck in Medford, police said.

Starlin Jimenez, 28, a former community college All-American and a member of Brentwood High School's wrestling Hall of Fame, was pronounced dead at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue at 3:34 p.m., about 35 minutes after the crash.

Jimenez was riding a 2005 Kawasaki motorcycle north on County Road 83, north of Petty Lane, when a 2005 Dodge pickup traveling south on County Road 83 made a left turn into a parking lot in front of the motorcycle, police said. Jimenez crashed into the passenger side of the truck, Suffolk police said.

James Bogen, 44, of Lake Ronkonkoma, the driver of the truck, was not injured, police said, but Jimenez sustained internal injuries.

Det. Sgt. Edward Aki said Sixth Squad detectives are investigating the accident, but no charges are anticipated. "This just appears to be a tragic accident," Aki said. "He [Bogen] said he didn't see him."

Brentwood High School varsity coach Ralph Napolitano was an assistant coach at the school when 2000 graduate Jimenez was a student there, wrestling and usually winning in the 112-pound division.

"He was a real quiet person, who led by example. His work ethic was second to none," Napolitano said. "Over the years as he grew to adulthood, he became a friend of mine."

Jimenez remained close to the wrestling program at Brentwood. "He loved coming back to the wrestling room during practice," Napolitano said. "He's going to be missed. He was one of Brentwood's wrestling royalty."