Police ID Man Who Died In Suffolk Scooter Crash; Woman Charged With DWI: Police

MELVILLE, NY — Police have identified the scooter rider who died in a Melville DWI crash early Saturday as Joseph Melendez, 38, of Wyandanch.

According to Suffolk County police, Melendez was operating a Fly Wing gas scooter when the crash took place. Jennifer Kirkpatrick, 24, of Melville, was driving a 2018 Subaru Forrester southbound on Bagatelle Road when she attempted to make a left turn onto Eastbound Express Drive South and struck Melendez, who was traveling northbound on Bagatelle Road at 1:06 a.m., police said.

Melendez was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Kirkpatrick was transported to Huntington Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

Kirkpatrick was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, police said. She was held overnight at the Fourth Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Saturday, polices aid.

The vehicles were impounded; major case unit detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to call 631-852-6553.