A Ronkonkoma man was arrested for alleged drunken driving after he crashed his SUV, killing his 25-year-old passenger in Patchogue early Thursday morning, Suffolk County police said.
Joseph Keleher, 24, was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo eastbound on Baker Street when he the truck hit a curb, drove across a grass embankment, overturned and came to a stop on Edwards Street shortly after midnight, police said.
His passenger, Kevin Smith, of Oakdale, was ejected from the Jeep. Smith was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in Patchogue, where he was pronounced dead.
Keleher was charged with driving while intoxicated. He will be arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Central Islip.
Vehicular Crime Unit detectives impounded the vehicle, are continuing the investigation and ask anyone with information about this crash to call them at 631-852-6555.
