Man killed, another seriously hurt in Holtsville hit-run, Suffolk police say

A Holtsville man working on a truck outside his home died and a friend was seriously injured after a passing vehicle struck both and the driver failed to stop, Suffolk police said.

Ryan Walker, 37, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital after the crash about 5:29 p.m. Wednesday outside his Express Drive South home and pronounced dead, according to police Thursday.

Robert Kehlenbeck, 46, was also taken to Stony Brook for treatment of serious injuries, police said. 

They were working on Kehlenbeck's 1989 F-150 pickup truck when the other vehicle struck them before continuing eastbound on Express Drive South, police said.

Neither Kehlenbeck's hometown nor a description of the vehicle that hit him and Walker was immediately available Thursday.

Kim Miller, a Walker family friend, was at the home at the time of the crash. 

Kehlenbeck's pickup was parked along the shoulder of the south service road, outside the home Walker shared with his parents and 13-year-old son, according to Miller.

She heard the crash, Miller said, and came outside to see Kehlenback lying in the street and Walker under the vehicle.

A third man who was with them screamed “stay with me,” she said. Miller called 911 and said police were on the scene within minutes. 

Walker’s mother Nancy was in shock, Miller said, but couldn’t leave because detectives were questioning her. Walker's family was too distraught to speak, Miller said, but she had a message for whoever caused the crash.

“Turn yourself in,” Miller said. “Do the right thing.”

Detectives asked anyone with information to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6553 or submit tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

With John Valenti

By Vera Chinese

vera.chinese@newsday.com@VeraChinese

Vera Chinese joined Newsday in 2017 after working as an editor for the East End lifestyle publication northforker and a general assignment reporter for the New York Daily News.