A Long Island couple were killed when an allegedly drunk driver slammed into their truck Sunday night, police said.
William Kear, 67, and his wife, Joanne, 66, died when their Chevy pickup was plowed into by an Audi A4 as they were attempting to make a left turn onto Ocean Avenue near Lakeland Avenue in Ronkonkoma around 9 p.m.
The Audi, driven by 23-year-old Kyle Glinka, was traveling south on Ocean Avenue and hit the truck as it was rounding the turn, cops said.
Christopher SabellaThe Medford couple were taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Center, where they were pronounced dead.
Glinka, a Bohemia resident, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, police said.
Neighbor Laura Stepper was devastated to learn the Kears had died, and recalled them as being a kind, family-oriented couple.
“They were great,” Stepper, 52, said. “They were so real. They were the kind of neighbors you pray you get.”
“I couldn’t believe it when my husband told me,” she added, tearing up. “I said ‘You gotta be kidding me.’ I just saw them.”
The Kears were both retired, and loved spending time with their grandchildren, Stepper said.
“They were all about the kids and the grandkids,” she said. “Holidays are always here. The kids were always here at the pool. The family is distraught, I’m sure.”



