2 pedestrians killed within 15 minutes in separate Suffolk crashes, police say

Suffolk County police are investigating two separate pedestrian deaths that occurred 15 minutes apart Friday evening in Selden and Shirley.

The first accident happened at 6:35 p.m. when a man was running across Middle Country Road near Adirondack Drive in Selden, police said.

According to law enforcement, the man was first hit by a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which knocked him to the middle of the road, where he was struck again by a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder.

The man, identified as Ireneusz Matuk, 66, of Selden, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office, police said.

Anyone with information on that crash is being asked to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.

The second crash happened at 6:50 p.m. on William Floyd Parkway in Shirley. A pedestrian was hit by a 2015 Jeep Wrangler heading south on the parkway near Roberts Road, police said Friday.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. On Wednesday, police identified him as Jeffrey Pope, 49, of Shirley.

The driver of the Wrangler, Eutichio Triburgo, 70, also of Shirley, was not injured, police said.

Police are asking anyone with information on the Shirley crash to call the Seventh Squad at 631-852-8752.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.