Crime & Safety

UPDATED: 5-Year-Old West Islip Boy Killed in Shirley Car Crash

Suffolk County Police charge Ronkonkoma man with driving under the influence of drugs.

UPDATE: The 5-year-old West Islip boy involved in this crash died of his injuries at Stony Brook University Medical Center on Sunday, according to police.

Suffolk County Police arrested a Ronkonkoma man and charged him with driving while ability impaired by drugs after he was involved in motor vehicle crash in Shirley that critically injured a 5-year-old West Islip boy.

According to police, Steven Kinalis, 30, was driving a 2007 Toyota Scion eastbound on Sunrise Highway Saturday morning when his vehicle rear-ended a 2004 Dodge pickup truck driven by Kevin Gaffney, 36, of West Islip. After being struck, Gaffney’s truck left the road and struck a tree.

Find out what's happening in West Islipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The accident happened just east of the William Floyd Parkway.

Police said the 5-year-old, Gaffney's son, was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center. Gaffney, his wife, 7-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son were treated at Stony Brook for non-life-threatening injuries.

Find out what's happening in West Islipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police have charged Kinalis, of Ronkonkoma, with driving while ability impaired by drugs. Kinalis, who refused medical treatment following the crash, is being held on $150,000 cash bail following a Sunday arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip.

No word yet on whether Kinalis will face additional charges. He is due back in court on Wednesday. 

On his Facebook profile, Kinalis lists his job as a senior loan consultant at Sterling National Bank in Great Neck.


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