Massachusetts man, Jim Jones, fatally struck at crosswalk in Ronkonkoma, police say

A Massachusetts man was killed on Thursday evening crossing Veterans Memorial Highway in Ronkonkoma at the crosswalk after a driver struck him with a car, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

The man, Jim Jones, 55, of Fall River, Massachusetts, had been trying to cross at Fifth Avenue when a 64-year-old driver struck him in the right lane of the westbound highway with a 2013 Honda Civic, the department wrote in a news release.

Jones was pronounced dead at Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was brought following the crash.

The police press office declined to provide the driver's speed or disclose who had the right of way except to say the investigation was unfinished and had no timeline. The office said by email, "There are no charges at this time" or criminality, but declined to provide the basis for that conclusion.

The press office said there's a traffic light at the intersection, but would not say who had the light. No tickets were issued.

Statewide, 308 pedestrians were struck and killed by drivers of motor vehicles, including 63 people on Long Island: 26 in Nassau and 37 in Suffolk, according to the University at Albany-based Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.