26-Year-Old Man Fatally Struck By Minivan In Ronkonkoma

RONKONKOMA, NY – A 26-year-old man was struck and killed by a minivan after he fell off his bike in Ronkonkoma Friday night, Suffolk Police said.

According to police, Steven Purrington was driving a 2004 Dodge Caravan westbound on Railroad Avenue east of Smithtown Avenue when the minivan struck a man in the roadway at about 8:34 p.m. The man, identified as Blake Behrens, had fallen from his bike into the roadway prior to being struck, police said.

Behrens, who was homeless, was transported by the Holbrook Fire Department to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue where he was pronounced dead. Steven Purrington, 75, and Joan Purrington, 72, both of Bohemia, remained at the scene and were released with no injuries.

The vehicle was impounded for a safety check. No criminal charges have been filed.

The investigating is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552.