Long Island

Long Island Minivan Driver Kicked to Death in Drunken Road Rage Crash: Cops

Patrick Destine, of Queens, has been arrested on charges including murder

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A 26-year-old Queens man has been arrested for allegedly kicking a 54-year-old driver to death after a collision on Long Island over the weekend, authorities say.

According to police, Patrick Destine, of Hollis, was involved in a crash with a minivan driven by 54-year-old David McKenzie near Schuman Place and Forest Avenue in Baldwin shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday.

It wasn't clear what caused the collision, which was later determined to be Destine's fault, but both drivers got out of their vehicles and started arguing, police said. The crash occurred just steps away from McKenzie's home.

"[Destine] had run a stop sign and made an unsafe right turn without his headlights on and struck the side of Mr. McKenzie's van, which had been going westbound," said Nassau County Police Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick.

Even though prosecutors said that McKenzie told Destine he wouldn't call the police to report the accident, Destine was still irate.

"When the subject caught up to the victim, he pushed him to the ground and began to violently punch and kick him in the face and neck area," Lt Fitzpatrick said.

Destine, who had been driving an Infiniti, allegedly started to attack McKenzie, kicking him in the head for an unknown period of time and causing severe head trauma, police say. Cops had to chase him down when they arrived at the scene but apprehended him after a short foot pursuit, officials said.

The victim was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight the following day.

Destine was charged with murder and driving while intoxicated. He was not granted bail at his arraignment, after which time defense attorney Scott Migden said "these are just allegations, we're not looking to rush to any judgement."

Police said that Destine has a rap sheet that includes violent felonies, DWI and second-degree murder.

His girlfriend — who was in the car with him at the time and also was arrested near the crash scene — caused a commotion outside the courthouse on Monday. She was seen angrily screaming at McKenzie's family, and was again arrested, this time by court officers.

McKenzie's family, meanwhile, held each other for support as they are in shock and mourning.

"David was the type of person who would try to walk away. He hated trouble or getting himself into confrontation," said Vivienne Williams, a relative. "It's a wound that's going to take a very long time to heal, I assure you that.

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