Man carrying fridge hit by car, killed in Copiague, police say
The Copiague Fire Department and Suffolk County Police responded to a pedestrian accident at Great Neck Road and Dixon Avenue about 3:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. Fire officials said first responders determined the victim had died. Credit: Paul Mazza
A man carrying a mini-refrigerator was struck by a car and killed as he attempted to cross an intersection in Copiague early Friday, Suffolk County police said.
Juan Vinas-Marte, 45, of Copiague, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 3:40 a.m. crash at Dixon Avenue and Great Neck Road, police said.
Jean Tatjana, 44, of Amityville, was driving a Honda Accord south on Great Neck when the car struck Vinas-Marte at the intersection, police said.
Tatjana was not hurt, and the Honda was impounded for a safety check, police said. No charges have been filed.
Photos from the scene showed the mini fridge in the road not far from Vinas-Marte, both in or near a crosswalk, and the Honda stopped 30 to 40 feet from the collision site — on the other side of the intersection.
Police said First Squad detectives and crime scene detectives are investigating the circumstances of the accident.
Anyone with information about the accident is urged to call detectives at 631-854-8152.
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
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