| Author | Message | ||
     Kccyclone |
Long Island -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BY CHRISTINE ARMARIO STAFF WRITER September 26, 2005 A night before a driver pinned Igor Kruk's motorcycle to the back of a sport utility vehicle with his car, killing Kruk in what police are calling a fit of road rage, Kruk had a dream his bike was in pieces on the ground and that he was unable to put it together, his family said yesterday. The dream was telling him to be careful, Kruk told his friends, and so he did not hesitate to go out on his 2004 Yamaha with a friend later Saturday afternoon. Kruk and his friend Victor Fras were headed east on Front Street when they were passed by a brown Honda Accord. Later, police said, they passed it in turn. That sent the driver of the car, Patrick DeJean, 41, of Uniondale, into a flurry of road rage, police said. He chased the two motorcycles through the streets of Uniondale with witness reports of speeds going up to 70 mph, until DeJean hit the rear of Kruk's bike on Marvin Avenue, dragging him 150 feet until he was pinned to a parked Kia Sportage, police said. Kruk's bike exploded into pieces, killing him on impact. DeJean got out of the car, his clothes covered in glass, and tried to run away, according to police. Kruk's friend Fras and several witnesses chased him about a quarter of a mile until they caught him and police arrived. Kruk, 24, a Polish immigrant, lived with his mother in Uniondale, waking up at 6 a.m. each day to work as a house painter, and polishing and upgrading his motorcycle on the weekend. This wasn't the first time DeJean hit someone with his car, police said. Four years before, in July 2001, DeJean ran over his then-girlfriend, Michelle Bond, with a car after she refused to lend him money, police said. He pleaded guilty to the charge. Police said he served jail time, but records were unavailable last night. After the 2001 case, DeJean surrendered his New York driver's license but got a new one in Pennsylvania, police said. Yesterday, as police escorted him to his arraignment at First District Court in Hempstead on charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a fatal accident, he had few words. "I'm sorry," said DeJean, in blue hospital pants and a white and blue gown. "I had an accident." Relatives of DeJean said police incorrectly described the 2001 charges. Ralph DuVal, his younger brother, said Bond stepped in front of the car after DeJean caught her standing outside in another man's embrace and started to drive away. They said DeJean is also a motorcycle driver and described him as a soft-tempered father of three children who works as an accountant. Bond could not be reached for comment. "People who drive cars tend to dislike guys on the motorcycles to go past them," DuVal said outside his home. "But he rides also. That wouldn't occur." In court, though, Nassau County Assistant District Attorney Bob Biancavilla described cars as DeJean's "weapon of choice." He was ordered held without bail on the current charges. "This, pure and simple, is a case of road rage," said Det. Sgt. Dennis Barry of the Nassau Homicide Squad. "The scene looked like a war zone." Shortly after the 4:14 p.m. crash Saturday, one of Kruk's friends showed up at his house and told his mother, Irena Kruk, there had been an accident. She said she rushed to the scene, where she saw a crumpled motorcycle and a crowd of police. "Is my son still alive?" she asked one of the officers. They took her aside and apologized for the loss, she said, advising her not to look at what was left of her son's badly burned body. "No body," Irena Kruk said yesterday, her face turning red and her blue eyes filling with tears. Irena Kruk said her son was going to return today to Poland to visit with his father, who was going to give him some of his farmland in eastern Poland. He worked as a painter, she said, and had dreams of opening his own business. He had been riding different types of scooters and motorcycles since he was 11 years old, she said, calling the Yamaha bike "his girlfriend." "Sleep more, you're young," she said she would often tell her hard-working son. "You see how it's a beautiful day," he would respond before heading out. "Now he go to sleep," she said, tears dripping from her eyes at the recollection. "He won't see nothing." | ||
| Jlnance |
He was murdered because he passed someone? What an incredably stupid thing to kill someone over.  | ||
| Scitz |
I passed a guy on my scooter the other day and then turned right onto another street. The guy turns and then pulls up next to me and starts pointing and yelling. I gave him the finger and then he flipped out and started coming into my lane like he was going to run me off the road. I consider this to be vehicular man slaughter. He had his window down and I wish I had some mace to spray at him. Using a car like this to me is that same as pulling out a gun or knife, your using the car as a weapon to threaten a life. I get road rage on occasion but I'm smart enough to just leave it at words and not actions, take a time out and calm down and then get back on the road. The guy in this story should never be driving after the first incident. Take his license and car just like a person convicted of a felony can never own a gun. | ||
| Tramp |
no offense, scitz, but not evryone would agree that flipping a stranger off is leaving 'it at words'. the guy you passed, by your own account, was pointing and yelling. flipping him off was a nice way to escalate things. wishing you could mace him sounds a little suspect as well. i notice you mention you passed him 'and then turned right on another street'. any chance you cut him off while executing this turn? you give a man the finger, you better be ready to throw hands, plain and simple. leave the can of mace with grandma. | ||
| Mikej |
Roadrage:  | ||
| Tramp |
now that's funny | ||
| Lonexb |
new york state did revoke his license. he went and got one from pennsylvania. i live on long island. it is just getting worse every year. lone xb | ||
| Tramp |
that's a fact. i love the island, but everyone's 'rock fever'(as in stuck living on an island,) keeps getting worse, there. i still can't get enough of the east end, though. i'll be out in montauk a lot next month. | ||
| Road_thing |
Funny or not, the dude looks like he's ready to go to war... | ||
| Tramp |
incidentally, scitz- i just peeked at your profile, and i saw your scooter. that guy was clearly pointing and yelling out of sheer envy. that thing kicks a*s, man!!!  | ||
| Tripp |
wow, that's very upsetting, why can't people just pull over and duke it out? killing someone over a traffic dispute is a little drastic! a black eye would be a little more appropriate if it was that big of a deal. there are far too many weaklings out there that are so scared to face somebody they don't agree with, so they resort to deadly weapons because they are wussies. booooo | ||
| 2hogs |
What's that old saying "An eye for an eye"? You take a life in the manner described in the original post and you should forfeit yours. Temporary Insanity? I'd bet he knew what he was doing from start to finish. OK rant over :-) | ||
| Oldog |
Second degree murder? police said. He chased the two motorcycles through the streets of Uniondale with witness reports of speeds going up to 70 mph, until DeJean hit the rear of Kruk's bike on Marvin Avenue, dragging him 150 feet until he was pinned to a parked Kia Sportage, He chased him down! sounds premeditated to me then "I'm sorry," said DeJean, in blue hospital pants and a white and blue gown. "I had an accident." capitol punishment is apropriate here  wanna stop this kind of crap, make the punishment bad enough it will stop! hit a bike by accident (with injuries)1 to 5 years no driving hit one and kill some one 10 years no driving minimum ( assuming that it was clearly an accident ) drinking, no licence ever, possibly 10 or more years in jail, "Officer I did not see 'em" = jail time this is also why you DON'T flip some one off road rage is inexcusable, I was near missed by a blue hair that had no business driving, after the initial 10 second rage, ( I had a suitable windshield penetrator ) I went home and parked the bike, AND I quit riding for over 10 years because I got so angry that I nearly chased a car down and committed violence. I won't mention who would have been in the wrong if I had When I started riding again, I decided to accept the fact that I was riding in an environment that was hazardous in part due to the carelessness or ineptitude of others, that I was going to enjoy the riding and the comaradery of my fellow riders. and accept one other tennant 2 wrongs do not = 1 right (Message edited by oldog on September 26, 2005) | ||
| Lonexb |
i don't know about "rock fever" Tramp. just seems to me that everyone is in a hurry to go no were,i mean it is a island (and not all that big a place)how far or fast do people think they are going to get.maybe save 5 minutes out of there life to get there faster. not worth it in my opinion. brian | ||
| Ryker77 |
umm... Why did the bike riders stop or slow down enough to get run over? I am not expert bike rider. Never raced or have a lot of riding skills. But I'd sure like to think that I would be able to out run / or evade a car. | ||
| Nevar |
My father used to tell me this all the time: "Son, don't go looking for trouble. Trouble will find YOU often enough." I try to live by that. Don't always succeed of course. Another thing I try to remember when I'm out on the road is "never get worked up about something that won't matter a week from now." Almost all 'road rage' things fall into this category. Really, are you going to remember that a guy who flipped you off last Tuesday morning on I-10? No. Who wants to get killed over something as stupid as getting angry at someone because they passed you. Besides, you never know how desperate that guy is in the car next to you - he may be running from the law and you're just getting in the way... I always figure it this way. Those assholes out there on the road will eventually meet up with someone like themselves and maybe they'll eliminate each other. You can only hope... Tim (Message edited by nevar on September 26, 2005) | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Sounds like they didn't run away because that didn't know that they were being chased. | ||
| Ryker77 |
road rage.. is such a PC name thing. If that bad driver is driving in a manner that could cause you or someone else serious damage to your health then you SHOULD let the unsafe driver know that they need a check. For example. The pretty blond in the huge SUV that is on the cell phone. When she just changed lanes into your lane and forces you to slow down or get pushed off the road. You have a few options. 1. blow your horn 2. do something stupid -like refuse to slow down 3. use some type of real road rage 4. or do nothing Now pick option 4 and do nothing. As you are driving behind her you get to watch her do this same turn without looking manuaver and force an old lady into a power pole. But hey you might not remember this next week and you didn't know the old lady. I allways blow the hell out of my horns, in my car. Even put the loudest Hella dual tone horns I could get. If I am on my bike. I try and never put myself near a car. But still when the no habla english taxi cab pulled out in front of me. I followed the taxi is a safe and controlled manner. When the taxi stopped I enformed the driver that in America we follow stop sign laws and that I would be calling the police. Of course I didn't call the police but maybe just maybe when your riding your bike and that same taxi drive is going to pull out in front of you she might remember what happend last time and NOT pull out in front of you. Might save your life! I also will call 911 and report bad driver. Numerous times on the freeway I've called the state patrol. One guy was towing two full size trucks with van. That vans bumper was nearly touching the ground and the rear tires were about to explode. I guess all of the other drivers thought the same "its not my problem" and just past the van. sad | ||
| Tramp |
ryker- i assume you have an elevated sense of sarcasm. (the rest of this post is not aimed at ryker, or any specific members of the board) I seriously doubt that anyone on this board would misuse the 911 system to report an oversized tow-load. When you guys find yourselves reacting to a lousy driver, ask yourself, in all honesty, if you would react the same to the blonde on the phone as you would to a 350 lb. armed thug at the wheel. If you find that you'd treat the wto different for the same offense, well....you're a pu*sy. I find that if I treat everyone as if they're the 350 lb. armed thug, I can live with myself better as a man. don't be selective in your reactions. i see too many nebbishes getting all 'badass' on little old ladies, and then cowering down when they're cut off by a big guy. that's chickensh*t. and don't bug the heat with 911 calls unless it's an actual emergency. (Message edited by tramp on September 27, 2005) | ||
| Ryker77 |
actually in my area 911 is the call center for all law enforcement dealings. Even if you want to call the local police and report a car broke down in the road. The police dept will transfer you to the 911 call center. the 911 call center will then dispatch an officer. An- oversized tow load on I-75 in metro Atlanta during rush hour traffic is a Hazard. If the van was to blow a tire and loose control of 12000lbs of metal then somebody would get hurt. I guess the brainwashing that was installed at paris islands forces me to react when I see something wrong. Moral courage to whats right. | ||
| Cruisin |
I don't care of the pretty blonde cut me off or not...if I have time I'll follow her anywhere...  | ||
| Panic |
"Patrick DeJean" I live around the corner from the incident. I'll bet you a dollar he's Haitian, and by now his lawyer has "reminded" him that the victim "used racial slurs", so he was "provoked". "Second degree murder?" In NY only cop's lives are important, 2nd degree only for citizens (punishment: free lawyer, food, clothing, shelter, athletic equipment, medical and psychiatric care, TV, movies, library). "Numerous times on the freeway I've called the state patrol." On Long Island the State Police have an unlisted number. You can't reach them directly. No, I'm no kidding. | ||
| Oldog |
I personally don't care if MR DEJEAN, is from Hati or The moon, a jury sure should see it that way. Mr Kruk is DEAD! and was rendered so By Pattie, If the story above is close to true well.... I hope that he stays in the big house the rest of his life, or gets the chair. car or gun whats the diff? His record from the above story (if correct) speaks for its self, Went to PA got a license so he could unlawfully drive in NY, after hitting some one with a car, accident or other wise. The guy has no business driving a car and has no reguard for life, or law. As such he should be removed from society. Panic I hear you on the club med thing! Are you saying that on LI that you have to call 911 to get the police? or that they have the DND active? Ryker I have worn the horn on the X1 out good idea about horns, I have called in a drunk on the road too. 285 in ATL you did right how many folks would have been hurt if the rig crashed? it boggles the mind. (Message edited by oldog on September 27, 2005) | ||
| Rkc00 |
Panic, I grew up in Uniondale. Where do you live? I have not seen you around the island on a buell. What are you riding? Mike Long Island, NY 06 XB12X Black | ||
| Panic |
No, M2 is a "work in progress", on my Evo XL around the neighborhood at times, near Uniondale Ave. and Jerusalem. | ||
| Blublak |
On the second-degree murder charge. That's actually correct, although they could add aggravated assault, assault with a deadly weapon, intent to do bodily harm and a host of other 'bolstering' charges if they so choose. Now, before anyone starts trying to 'flame' me for disagreeing with him not getting the 'dinger'. Realize that first degree murder requires that it meet stiffer criteria: Malice aforethought, basically, this guy had to state before he got in the car that he was going to run over and kill the first motorcyclist he sees. Remember, it has to be PRE-MEDITATED murder while in the commission of a felony. In this case, first degree just wouldn't meet the burden of proof. | ||
| Oldog |
whats a dinger | ||
| Panic |
Pre-meditated does not appear in the New York statute (PL 125.25). 1st degree does not cover murder as a single act except for police, witness, for hire etc. 2nd degree is still intentional. It's either intentional (murder) or it's not (manslaughter). More: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?cl=82&a=28 | ||
| Oldog |
"before anyone starts trying to 'flame' me for disagreeing with him " Sorry all: stories like this really get under my skin! Lost a good friend decades ago to a cager, the irony is that he was not riding at the time but was on a side walk after several months at sea on a sub. Like all of you I have had the hair raising near misses, Experienced the agrivation of dodging the inattentive or malicious cager. The above article points up the best and worst of our system of law. Mr Dejean was essentialy driving illegaly in NY where he had the previous "accident", Sadly He was not caught doing so, The description of Mr Kruks death was gruesome, to say the least, he must have had a horrific experience, as his life ended. ( partialy crushed then burned ) Mr Dejean could not have managed to kill the man in a more heinous way. In part that has lead me to make the statement about the chair, It may seem "dracoinian" but would it be right to give Mr Dejean 3 or 4 years in the jail and return him to the street, to possibly repeat this? Want to be safer while riding?, make it so that it is so grevious to hit a bike with a larger vehicle that it stays fixed in the drivers minds In the above I don't think it would have made much difference but over all it would. (Message edited by oldog on September 28, 2005) | ||
| Blublak |
Hmmm.. Did not know that about the NY stautes. When I refer to 'The Dinger' in this case, it would mean him getting the harshest punishment possible under the law. Oldog, I don't disagree that this guy is scum, I was simply stating (based on my understanding of the general felonies) why a charge of 2nd degree would be correct. As for time spent in prison, well if NY has that short a stay for a major felony, I think there is some serious things wrong up there with their legal system. | ||
| Rick_a |
A couple years ago I had a guy in a Ford Mustang cut me off in heavy traffic while I had my step son on the bike. I tried to pass him later when a gap presented itself but he accelerated to try to cut me off...I have no right side mirror and didn't know he was trying to pinch me off. I heard his motor race then looked behind and watched him run himself off the road. Next he pulls up beside me yelling that I must want to die and threatens me by pulling his car into my lane repeatedly. At a stop he continues yelling ridiculous crud about me trying to "kill my kid." A woman that was ahead of him in a nearly identical car chimes in yelling obscenities as well. I just sat there and looked at them in disgust. There was a cop car a few cars up, but he did nothing. All I could think of was ramming my fist into his face. I didn't want this A-hole to smash my bike or my son, and I'm sure the cop would've taken ME in. I hate setting a bad example, but I regret not teaching this punk a lesson. Some people are so stupid and ignorant it is truly disgusting. | ||
| Impulse_101 |
I had a pickup try and run my off the interstate a couple of weeks ago. I was in my lane (left hand) following at a safe distance from the driver in front of me and next thing I see is an arm waving at me two or three feet away from me in my lane. The guy was screaming at me to "Get off the road!" and then he flew in front of me until he was inches behind the car I was following. The same guy did the same thing to every car that got in his way for the next 10 miles at least. I tried to remember his plate and I called the sherrif as soon as I was off the interstate. They sent a deputy out to my house and he took my statement apparently I didn't get the plate right and he wouldn't or couldn't run a partial place. | ||
| Mikej |
I've thought about carrying a grease pencil taped to the tank for times like this. A camera on a camera mount would work as well. And another camera pointing to the rear of the bike with a flashing sign that reads "you are being recorded when the light is flashing" for tail gators. But it doesn't happen often enough to make it worth the cost and effort. (Message edited by mikej on September 29, 2005) |
